ChinenyeN:

Asking that question is like asking if one's parents are always right. The short answer is, "no". Asking why we respect elders and their opinions so much even when we know they are humans like us, is like asking why children consult (or discuss with) their parents on many, many matters. It is understood that they generally have experienced more than us, and that there are underlying and fundamental truths in the things that they say. Lamely put, the elders are wiser and have a much more mature (practical and often times, broader) understanding than the rest of us, generally speaking.

Is there a reason why we ought not respect our elders?

michelin89:

We should for the years they have lived. But in our culture I feel they are considered untouchable and infallible. Have you heard the sensation that "some" might not deserve such treatment?

I don't think this applies to parents alone. Inside a typical Nigerian family we have a hierarchy mainly based on age. Age is what matters at the end of the day!

ChinenyeN:

I'm not all too sure about the bolded part. My understanding is different. I don't think untouchable and infallible are the right words for it (maybe they are in your experience, but not mine). From my experience, the word of the elders is treated with high, if not utmost regard, due to their wisdom and practical, as well as broad, understanding (indicating that there is a definite, fundamental, applicable truth to what they say). Their word though, is not really treated as "the final say", unless it is actually in their jurisdiction to make such a call. So the question of and elder being always right or wrong does not really have a simple, "yes" or "no" answer.

Have you heard the sensation that "some" might not deserve such treatment?
-------- I have not, but as far as I know though, it has always been understood that there are some elders one cannot really rely on. The words of those not so reliable elders can be given some consideration (again, because there is often times some definite, fundamental, and applicable truth), but it often times is not treated with such high regard as that of other more reliable elder.

As for the hierarchy, I feel that the importance of age is more tied with cultural respect, as opposed to respect based on wisdom. By cultural respect I mean things such as, how one greets those who are in older age-grades, or how one conducts themselves in the presence of older age-grades, etc,  As far as I've seen, people in younger age-grades often times still give cultural respect to someone of an older age-grade, regardless of how useful/useless the person is when it comes to knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. So basically, the hierarchy (in my view) seems more connected with cultural courtesy than one's supposed/implied wisdom due to age.

Asking that question is like asking if one's parents are always right. The short answer is, "no". Asking why we respect elders and their opinions so much even when we know they are humans like us, is like asking why children consult (or discuss with) their parents on many, many matters. It is understood that they generally have experienced more than us, and that there are underlying and fundamental truths in the things that they say. Lamely put, the elders are wiser and have a much more mature (practical and often times, broader) understanding than the rest of us, generally speaking.

michelin89:

Experience they say is the best teacher but does it make you above mistakes?

How come we respect elders and their opinions so much even when we know they are humans like us, so they are failable?

tenry:

elders are not always right, we have  brainless and foolish people[no apology]who always claim to be an elder with little or no sense of judgement when it comes to critical issues.

tenry:

elders are not always right, we have  brainless and foolish people[no apology]who always claim to be an elder with little or no sense of judgement when it comes to critical issues.