Unfortunately, sometimes even unacceptable behavior is tolerated in the name of courtesy and respect.
So, in cultures with high power distance, the weaker you are, the less likely you are to expect protection from the organization.
Even in the United States, where people are known to be sensitive to rude behavior, there is a widespread fear and helplessness that many people will turn a blind eye to rudeness or that organizations will not act even if they receive such information.
This phenomenon is a result of globalization, fragmented human relationships, and the widespread use of the Internet for business transactions.
As power becomes more concentrated in the hands of those with high status or power than in the past, these individuals have greater freedom to abuse their positions or to disrespect others more directly and publicly without repercussions.
--- From "To Korean Readers"

One surgeon, who was known for his abusive language, confessed that he had no idea that residents, nurses, and staff disliked his rough, direct style until he received a formal complaint.
This is precisely why I find it horrifying that others treat me rudely, and why I treat others rudely too.
Rudeness is usually a product of ignorance, not malice.
I started my research by assuming that the reason the workplace was such a mess was because of the idiots running wild everywhere.
But now I know that the people who lack objective self-awareness are the ones who commit the most vicious acts.
We live our lives without even the slightest intention of harming others, yet for some reason we do so.

--- 「CHAPTER 1.
From "Why is the world so full of foul language?"

It was Father's Day week 21 years ago.
I went to a hospital outside Cleveland, Ohio, and walked into a stuffy hospital room.
My father, who had been strong and cheerful, was lying listlessly in his hospital bed with wires and other things dangling from his bare chest.
My father confessed that he had been living in anxiety, not knowing when a heart attack would strike.
How did it end up like this? My father endured two incredibly rude bosses for over ten years.

My father's boss had a habit of getting angry and swearing in front of people.
He insulted his employees, fired them unfairly, belittled their performance, and even blamed them for problems that inevitably occurred.
My father endured for a long time.
Eventually, the father reached a point where he could no longer bear it.
Worried about the harm his annoying boss would do to the organization, my father mustered up the courage to speak out to the president.
I knew full well that whistleblowing was a risky act.
My father, who was anxious, said this to my mother.
“If the company doesn’t fire him, I’m finished.”
A few weeks later, the bad boss was voted Regional Manager of the Year.
And a few days later, my father collapsed.
--- 「CHAPTER 2.
From "The Virus Called Rudeness"

Statistics show that Americans file medical malpractice lawsuits not only because of poor treatment but also because of complaints about their doctor's words and actions.
A study comparing doctors who were frequently sued to those who had never been sued found that the former spent more time building empathy with their patients.
These doctors spent an average of three minutes longer talking to patients than regular doctors.
In both cases, there was no significant difference in the amount and quality of information conveyed by the physicians.
The difference was in the way the doctors treated their patients.
They tried to give patients more information, made jokes and conversations more friendly, asked more questions, and humbly asked for their opinions.

--- 「CHAPTER3.
From “There is nothing a polite person cannot achieve”

As neuroscientist and Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Edward Hallowell points out, bad memories can lurk beneath the surface of our memory for years.
Dr. Hallowell called this phenomenon brain burn.
When we experience an awkward or unpleasant situation due to rude words or actions, a psychological upheaval occurs, causing physiological reactions such as a pounding heart or rapid breathing, and a flood of intense emotions.
When anger, fear, and sadness all come crashing down on a victim or witness of rudeness, it leaves scars on both the body and mind.
Because adrenaline surges through your body, burning holes in your brain.
It's like engraving an indelible 'tattoo' on your brain.
These overwhelming emotions remain as tattoos and can never be erased.
Even a quick glance at the perpetrator or the place where the incident occurred can bring back vivid emotions.

--- 「CHAPTER4.
From “The Infection Routes and Prevention of Rudeness”

The simple act of smiling can improve your mood, boost your immunity, reduce stress, and lower your blood pressure.
It also reduces the risk of heart attack.
Laughing once can stimulate your brain as much as eating 2,000 chocolate bars.
A smiling face is also related to longevity.
There is an interesting study related to this.
A study of baseball cards featuring the faces of Major League Baseball players from the 1952 season revealed that whether or not the players had a smiling face affected their longevity.
The average lifespan of players who smiled brightly was 79 years, while the average lifespan of players who didn't smile much was 72 years.
The story goes that he lived seven years longer thanks to his smiling face.

--- 「CHAPTER6.
From “A polite person takes care of the basics”

Many people, both men and women, believe that women should be protected from unpleasant or embarrassing situations, even if it means telling white lies.
The reason they act this way without realizing it is because they grew up thinking of women as vulnerable beings or as beings in need of protection and special treatment.

However, lies told with good intentions can actually be harmful.
If women don't receive as much honest feedback as men, they won't be able to develop themselves effectively in a short period of time, and as a result, their career development will be challenging.
Women unanimously say they want honest feedback.
And I get angry when I feel like someone is lying about their accomplishments.
Such white lies, while based on the assumption that women are vulnerable, can actually cause deep harm to women.

--- 「CHAPTER7.
From “Facing the Prejudice Within Me”

Scientists say that 50% of our happiness depends on the neural networks in our brains, 40% on how we interpret and react to what happens to us, and 10% on our reality, such as whether we are in a position of power or dependent on a job or abuser.
We can decide for ourselves how we interpret rudeness, what meaning we give it, and what story we tell ourselves.
It is also up to us to control whether or not we feel offended by rudeness.
Telling you to become a 'stronger' person may be unrealistic advice.
But I can decide to ignore the rudeness shown to me.

--- 「CHAPTER10.
From "If You Have to Deal with a Rude Boss"