Someone suggested to me recently that manners are hypocritical. That it is emotionally "wrong" in some way to be polite to people one does not "like", or to offer what was once called common courtesy. This person so completely missed the point that I was somewhat befuddled as to how to answer. Manners aren't about your emotions, or about what you think about other people. Manners are a code of behavior people have worked out over time. The code of manners is meant to avoid conflict with strangers, particularly, and to facilitate movement in public places. When people abide by this code, they have little or no conflict.
Anyone insisting that they have some sort of emotions connected to perfect strangers is on very shaky ground, anyway. They may not need mental health counseling ( which is probably where they are sent after displaying "emotions" to strangers in public places ), but they need some serious re-education.
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