I think the point being made is that you will encounter unreasonable people at work over the course of your career, and this is an example of one particular typ

I think the point being made is that you will encounter unreasonable people at work over the course of your career, and this is an example of one particular type of unreasonable. The examples you mention are very real as well! At some point even if you act in good faith, there will be situations in which you absolutely cannot bridge the gap.