Why are people so..simpleminded?

Really? In this day and age it seems that I come in contact with more and more simpleminded people on a daily basis. It's very distressing, people attack you for what you believe in - need that be religion, or being a vegetarian or something as simple as the music you listen to or a lifestyle change that is meant to help you and benefit yourself and noone else. What happened to respect? Did we somehow down evolve so much that we've forgotten it? 'In order to gain respect one must earn it' isn't that how it's always been preached to us by parents, teachers, elders? Well what happens when your never shown respect in the first place? What do you do then? I go back two years ago - the end of my Sophomore year in high school - yes I did some foolish things. I used to smoke weed every chance that I got and go out on weekend and drink. That continued until my Junior year - the middle of my Junior year actually then I saw how it was effecting me - I saw how my grades fell and how unwise it was to do such things. I stopped smoking cigarettes too, even if that wasn't that long ago and I've decided to clean my act up and choose a lifestyle that I realize is something that's really good for me. The Straight-Edge lifestyle; then people attack me for it? Ha! It's really sad how people do it, yes I made my mistakes, but I'm fixing them now and I won't make them again, is that such a problem for you? I'm not a religious person, never have been probably never will be. So no I'm not Straight Edge with god. God free is how I'm doing it because religion is sold and honestly? It's sad I feel rather sorry for a lot of people. I have no problem with any religion but when you say that "Oh you can't be Straight Edge unless your religious" you really have some problems. Respect - it's a simple concept.

1: a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation respect to an earlier plan>2: an act of giving particular attention : consideration 3 a: high or special regard : esteem b: the quality or state of being esteemed cplural : expressions of respect or deference respects>

That really dosen't look like a hard thing to do too me, now why should it for you? And this isn't directed at one single person, I just needed to vent - just mind your own shit. Leave your nose out of my business and we'll be fine. Don't push/preach your relegion to me and I wont lash out at you. Thanks :]