the.com/politeness
the social lubricant that lets us hate each other smoothly and on schedule
means The practice of behaving courteously and considerately toward others, especially through small acts of tact, deference, and good manners.
from From French 'politesse,' itself from Italian 'pulitezza' meaning cleanliness or polish — both tracing back to Latin 'politus,' the past participle of 'polire,' 'to polish' or 'make smooth.' So a polite person is, quite literally, a polished one: the rough social edges buffed away until you gleam. The same Latin root gives us 'polish' the verb, making courtesy and a shined shoe etymological siblings.
- costly signal
- Manners prove you can afford to slow down
- japanese layers
- Keigo has multiple grammar tiers just for respect
- please power
- Magic words measurably increase compliance with requests
- face-saving
- Politeness theory frames talk as protecting everyone's dignity
- survival hedge
- Excessive courtesy often masks fear, not warmth
japanese bowing culture — precise angle degrees and duration vary by social rank and context in japan
indian namaste greeting — hand position and bow depth convey respect levels in south asian cultures