Couple of quick points about some of the tangential discussions going on.
An appeal to authority is not always a fallacy, if the credibility of the authority is generally agreed upon by everyone involved, and the area of expertise is directly relevant to the topic at hand. The issue around here is people arguing that because they know one thing (e.g., "self defense" ninja training), that they are experts in another thing (e.g., fighting). The easiest way to combat this is to cite your sources, and to pay attention to those who do not.
Respect can exist without courtesy, and vice versa. Though, I can understand how not being disrespectful is different from being respectful. FWIW, I also see a clear distinction between respecting someone and being respectful. The latter is a behavior, while the former is a belief or opinion.
Okay, carry on.