It's kind of always been the case. It's mentioned in "How to Win Friends & Influence People". It's not rude just because you may be speaking to someone unemploy

It's kind of always been the case. It's mentioned in "How to Win Friends & Influence People". It's not rude just because you may be speaking to someone unemployed, but because it immediately makes your discussion take a turn for business. People like to be appreciated for who they are, not what they do.