• Phoenix3875@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    It’s reserved for really close friends (sometimes also relatives). The problem is not the extent of politeness per se, but one that exceeds the “expected” politeness. If you’re politer than you’re supposed to be, you are being too 客气 (“acting like a guest”) or 见外 (“looking like a stranger”).

    Although, the expected politeness is sometimes tricky to know as it depends on each part’s perception of the relation. On top of that, there’s also the supposed “acting” of politeness, like fighting to pay restaurant bills.

    This is actually not that hard to understand. Note that across cultures, close friends can insult each other as jokes. So showing less politeness is like an insult, but with the understanding of the participants, it becomes a show of closeness.

    • LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz
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      3 days ago

      One more thing to freak out about. Which level of politeness is appropriate. Im polite by nature! Oh no, what if I’ve already offended people?!?

      • atopi@piefed.blahaj.zone
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        3 days ago

        here are some tips on how to be less polite (in no particular order):

        • Set yourself a goal
        • Find yourself an arch enemy that opposes your goal
        • Be willing to sacrifice anything to defeat your archenemy
        • Steal a gun from your arch enemy
        • Forget about or surpress unimportant emotions like empathy
        • Ascend to a higher plane of existence
        • Never give up under any circumstance (Borrow willpower from the future if necessary)
        • Be insanely patient
        • Smile at the misfortune of others
        • Be sarcastic always, never show your real emotions
    • mriormro@lemmy.zip
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      3 days ago

      I’m going to continue existing not needing to process this much social protocol.