I will not bark back at a dog just because the dog barks at me.

 

someone remarked

A true demeanor, without pretensions, is not always welcome in this world of sleight of hand. What can one do when cunningness gets confused as smartness?

My reaction

Such questions as raised by you have very limited import.. First you have to realize that you are your own boss. Most of the time you can decide about the way you want to behave, act and interact..

The behaviour of X or Y or Z need not regulate your attitude.

Of course, there will be extreme situations where the nuisance created by others would be beyond our endurance threshold. But such situations are rare

And usually, there is room for privacy and actions out of own volition in most situations.

You can refuse to pretend even if all the people around you pretend.

You have to take precautions against sleight of hand perpetrated by others. But you need not return the same deception

Ultimately, it is the consideration whether your activities, attitudes and life in general is welcome for yourself. It does not matter much whether others welcome it or not.

Ultimately every one of us is a single unit.

I will not bark back at a dog just because the dog barks at me.