Ruling-class procedural politeness masks a threat against open confrontation

Evidence

The English master class are the only people for whom hypocrisy is not only acceptable, but obligatory. … “Yes, yes, you have a grievance, yes, of course things are totally unjust. But there are ways of going about things, old chap. Procedures. Aggression, confrontation, they never get anything done, do they? (And after all, they are a little vulgar, don’t you think?) Now, that’s not what I’m saying, I think your intensity is admirable, but other people, well. They’re not quite so intelligent. They won’t understand. So I would advise moderating it a bit. For your own sake. Carry on like this and things might get uh difficult for you…” — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 2350

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Territorial groups weaponize breached politeness rules to repel outsiders; Politeness and social mixing mask a tacit acceptance of inhumanity — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1690; Civility masks the egoism and violence of those who claim refined manners (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Politeness and social mixing mask a tacit acceptance of inhumanity #corroborates (0.88) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1690
• Civility masks the egoism and violence of those who claim refined manners #corroborates (0.85)
• Territorial groups weaponize breached politeness rules to repel outsiders #expands (0.75)