Yep. (I'm in the US.) The transactionalization of aspects of both work and life is depressing. I think it's a confluence of multiple factors that may or may not

Yep. (I'm in the US.) The transactionalization of aspects of both work and life is depressing. I think it's a confluence of multiple factors that may or may not be present in all circumstances: a lack of manners, a power imbalance, and/or a view that someone who provides a service is a widget rather than a human being. Some data points: - My next door neighbors in a small town residential neighborhood are poorer, but don't say "please" or "thank you" for anything. - An entitled Brahmin dude I used to work with at a Big Name University™ grew up with a dozen servants never gave gratitude or used pleasantries. - Some other employees at a MAANG I used to work for as well as other residents in the apartments I lived in had an attitude of "too cool for everyone else" and didn't use pleasantries. Without rapport and humanity by showing a little real decency and compassion, life and business interactions become commoditized and cold, and that intangible cool or goodwill evaporates and nothing much holds people to each other or people to a brand.