Dig deeper. Why do people feel they aren't respected over a mode of transit of all things?
Are you suggesting there are absolutely no concerns over economics, quality of life, etc.?
Also, why don't we see this same issue elsewhere? Nobody elsewhere is arguing that subway over LRT is a "matter of respect". It's because, in Toronto, one mode is seen as faster and more reliable than the other. LRT advocates will go on and on about more stops and all that. And they miss the mark on what people actually care about: getting where they want to go quickly.
There's a big world beyond Urban Toronto, Skyscraper Page, Reddit, etc. And the people you have to convince aren't on those boards. They are regular citizens who work hard, raise families and are fed up with long commutes. Tell them they are wrong to feel slighted, or the the constant inference that they are morons, is to me, an odd strategy that isn't likely to succeed. And it's offensive to the core idea of our democratic ideals: that voters understand self-interest.