What's the difference in usage between に対して and にとって?


I often used に対して when speaking, and have noticed にとって as the favorite
expression of the author who's book I'm now reading. What's the difference in
usage? Are there any other similar expressions I should be wary of misusing?




These are _way_ different expressions. ～に対して can either mean "towards/to
(someone・something)", or "as opposed to". ～にとって means "for"/"thinking about it
as" in a way that I can't better explain without just using examples:

## ～に対して:

>   * 隣人に対して友情を表す → Be friendly ("show friendliness") to your neighbour  
>
>   * 男性に対して女性はドラマやロマンチックな映画が好き - As opposed to guys, girls like dramas,
> romantic movies, etc.
>

## ～にとって:

>   * うちのワンちゃんにとって必ずしも猫が敵じゃない → To/for our dog, cats are not necessarily
> enemies  
>
>   * 教授にとって生徒が参加するほど講義が面白くなります → For a professor, giving a lecture is more
> interesting the more the students participate.
>

