Today it crossed my mind that there was a common sentiment that was utterly foreign to me: respect. And thus I spent a little time looking into the matter. Dictionaries differ, but this is a feeling or attitude of admiration and deference toward someone or something. The usual examples involve respect for superiors, parents and family, elderly, nation, or religion. All such feelings and attitudes are utterly foreign to me. I have never felt them even for a moment. And I have never wished such sentiments directed toward myself. In fact, I cringe at admiration and deference as such. Of course, the same holds for the opposite sentiment: disrespect. Once again, it is utterly foreign to me. I have never felt disrespect toward anyone or anything. Except, I just realized, that this sentiment also stands for the lack or absence of respect. By this definition, I am disrespectful to boot. What is worse, I am disrespectful toward everyone and everything, including my own self. And at all times. To wit, respect and disrespect are hardly opposites. Disrespect is respect’s spiteful remainder, too.