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Formality is used to put a respectful distance between people you don't like, but also people you don't know. Too much familiarity with someone you don't known
by merpnderp 7y ago
Formality is used to put a respectful distance between people you don't like, but also people you don't know.
Too much familiarity with someone you don't known is a highly aggressive challenge. "What's up motherfucker" to some guy at the bar won't make any friends and might end in a fight.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 7y agoAs with many things there is quite a bit of nuance to the usage of registers, often differing by region. Opening conversation with strangers using an informal (but not crude) register is common in the US, and consequently the injection of formality can be done with hostile intention. If the hostility is not recognized by the other party the intention can be made clear by the juxtaposition of formality and crudeness. Consider a phrase like "Would you kindly fuck off?".