It's a sentiment that appears to be fading in recent times, and even the very definition of respect seems muddled. Often, people limit its application to accomplishments they deem worthy of praise and admiration. I'm talking about respect on a fundamental level, stripped down to common human decency, and it's slipping away every year. The Golden Rule still matters; treating others as you want to be treated is crucial, yet it's becoming scarcer.

Disagreements are automatically perceived as enmity, leading to the belief that adversaries are inherently bad and should be fought. But you can disagree and still respect. You can even dislike someone vehemently, abhor their actions, and believe they deserve condemnation. But you must still treat them with respect.

This is challenging, and you might think, "How is that possible?" It's a sentiment that people who do terrible things deserve unfair treatment. However, that's not the way I want to live. We're all humans, and either we're all equal and deserve equal treatment, or we're not. This isn't a generalization; I'm specifically addressing the situation, not naming any individuals who are part of the communities I'm in, like FNAF and GameJolt in general.

Let's be clear: I am not defending hate or promoting unfair treatment. People are often labeled based on a single word or phrase, a practice that inherently dehumanizes them, whether in praise or demonization.

I will never stand for that. I repeat it continuously; we, as individuals, are the same—humans navigating through life. Even if someone is under attack, whether due to their actions or society, that doesn't matter. What matters is the most basic human element: the belief that we are all equal and deserve respect. We are more than our labels.

I don't care about the color of your skin, your religion or where you're from, or where you are now—all I care about is who you are and whether you are free to discover that. This isn't just about any specific individual; it's a universal statement. If we're ever going to progress as a society, as people, as a species, as Planet Earth, we need to, at the most basic level, respect each other. It's hard; the high road is lonely. But if we ever want to be more than we are now, we need to respect each other.

Depends on us, summoning the fortitude to tread the high road in the face of the severest adversity. I harbor abundant hope for people. I am optimistic about this world, and I hold high expectations for what we can achieve to transform it into a better place, a cause I'll staunchly defend. When confronted with the dehumanization of someone, or anyone... I won't stand idly by. Because, when the day concludes, there will be those who follow us. It falls on you and me to exemplify the true essence of respect for them.