Ist es besser, die Wahrheit zu sagen, oder sollte man lieber ab und an davon etwas Abstand zu nehmen, um höflich zu sein?
Nachgefragt bei Miss Manners:
How can one deal (correct word?) with nice people, saying „all the right things,“ without meaning any of it? It’s just been driving me crazy as it seems to be occurring more and more.
GENTLE READER — This is not an affliction, Miss Manners assures you. It is a blessing.
For the last several decades, people have been saying all the wrong things that they really mean, from „I can’t use this“ instead of „Thank you“ for a present; „Only a moron would think that“ instead of „I’m afraid we disagree“ in a political discussion and „You’ve put on a lot of weight“ instead of „How nice to see you“ on seeing an acquaintance.