Good manners never debase the giver.
However just as manners are a statement, a statement of NOT REWARDING uneducated and purposfully cluless louts is a valid statement.
When was the last time you saw a crew of paris hiltonites give up their seats for an elderly couple? rare if ever.
How about in a quick stop restaurant where the uncouth man continues to wear his hat when his age says he should know better.
Good manners should never be allowed to be used as a leverage against the practitioner.
I simply don’t see how good manners can be used as a lever against the practitioner. Practicing good manners is good for your heart, regardless of what the other person does. Well, unless they physically assault you, I guess.
I play a little *game* here. S. Florida is filled with the most sour people you can imagine. I smile at them and see how many I can get to smile back. I would say far fewer than 50% but so what? Even if I just brightened one person’s day, that’s enough for me. I’m not going to let the angry people win.