I find that it depends on the elder. Back in my kiss ass heyday as an elder I was a total WT/FD&S goon and if you as a R&F member didnt measure up you were beneathe me.
Later as I became more moderate and started to realize that being an elder is a political office only I eased up tremendously. Now I truly consider myself trapped as an elder due to pressure from wife and other family members. I hate it and I decline "privileges" as much as I can, I try to treat all with respect, and the other elders are slowly getting tired of me. lol.. I can only hope that soon stab me in the back and I can sit back and do jack squat.