I don't try to provide info for questions that have been asked so I will be thanked, but I have noticed lately that there are quite a few people who ask a question and then overtly reject the info provided. It's fine to disagree that a suggestion sounds a good idea, but what has happened to saying thank you for taking the time and making the effort to respond? And then maybe something like, "I wonder if that would work in my situation because..."

The finest compliment I've ever been paid in regard to being a parent is when people say something like, "your kid is so polite." This has happened often over the years because I've made the effort to explain to my kids why it's always appropriate to be polite, that to be rude is to disrespect one's self, and offered examples of ways to be polite. It's very important to me that, if I'm going to send new people out into the world, they are polite. It is free, anyone can do it. Being polite is part of the "golden rule" to treat others as you would be treated, do unto others that which you would have done to you. What goes around comes around. You get what you give.

My profile says, accurately, that I'm in AL but this is not a southern thing. I came from OH, where I lived for decades, and moved to AL about 15 yrs ago. I've encountered polite people all over the country. Thankfully, there seems to be many more polite people out there than rude people. I hope our society can continue that. I don't do social media beyond chatting about plants, but that does seem like a great arena for the proliferation of politeness, should people choose to do so. Yes, I'm aware that people say ugly things online in writing, especially when they feel anonymous, but I hope they will remain a small percentage of the population.

it doesn't hurt to go the extra mile when dealing with people. The counter guy is rude to you? Wait. Think. Maybe he just got some bad news. Maybe he's not getting that much needed and deserved raise. There is always a back story to peoples' rudeness. This does not excuse his behavior but merely puts a reason to it. I had a really nasty woman wait on me at walmart. I mean she was one second from being reported to the manager. I asked her right to her face-"why are you being so mean to me? You're being extremely rude for no reason. I'm a customer here trying to pay for my items." She stopped and looked at me and I said "I like your nail color". A small kindness. We've been talking since. When I see her at Walmart we always chat. She apologized for her bad behavior that day. I always try to be as polite as possible-even though some people can stretch my patience. A simple thank you always works.

Excellent, Brenda!

People sometimes have their personal reasons for feeling unsociable in a particular moment or situation. It's not an excuse; more like an explanation. Like Brenda, I also make up a story about why other people behave the way they do - because stories are what I do. I know there always is one, don't usually know what it is, but imagining possible situations helps me put things into perspective.
(And I'm very much aware of all the times I've blurted or retorted something inappropriate, or abrupt, or indiscreet, or even mean when I was ticked off, so I try to cut others a little slack for their lapses. When her grownup children had such a lapse, my favourite aunt used to say: "I must have been asleep when I was supposed to teach him that.")
I often notice little kids in supermarkets (It's not like I go much of anywhere else these days!) who are exuberant and tempted to cut up, being restrained by mothers or fathers, reminded to be aware of other people. You know what's funny? They tend to be at their nicest when shopping with a grandmother. Is that a story? I shop in a small city where children generally participate in civic activities. I think they become socialized at an early age, and the habit sticks.
I've encountered a lot more rude behaviour on the internet than in my physical neighbourhood.

Actually, on this site, I've been impressed by the level of civility that prevails. On the Ask a Question and Plant ID forums, most people who get answers, even unhelpful ones, say thank you. In Vegetable Gardening, everybody tries to give everybody else helpful advice, and pretty much everybody applauds everyone else's good outcomes.
I really appreciate that!
Good manners are still alive and well, at least in some small obscure corners of the earth.

Some people seem to ask for advice then automatically reject the reply. They can always tell you why "that" won't work for their situation. It doesn't matter a bit how expert you may be, they're not going to even consider the advice they asked for.
(OK, I've been on both sides of that, but I really do try to keep an open mind and think things through.)
I'm getting old, I've stopped trying to argue with them, that goes nowhere. I guess I've stopped trying to fix other people, but still try to listen to their stories. A lot of times they just want to talk, and may have good reason to be in a bad mood.
So Tiffany, I know what you mean! Keep smiling it's unlikely you'll fix anyone else.

Well I have tried to "fix" people on occasion. And rightfully so. There was a manager where I work, who passed around a rather rude cartoon of a woman getting a mammogram. I guess he thought it was funny to laugh at a woman expressing pain in an off color way. Oh, ha ha. I was furious and went directly yo upper management because talking to this cretin would have been pointless. He got his tail in a ringer over his actions and then had the gall to come back and whine at me as if this was my fault. Company awareness is key and the he/she issues are now dealt with very strictly. So maybe I helped this guy to understand that demeaning women is not the right thing to do. Dunno. It just shows another unsavory side to the person you're dealing with. Yesterday another rudeness happened. I was going towards the office with paper work in hand and one of the finance guys jumped in front of me, opened the door but didn't hold it for me.He just barged in making me step back. I had to reopen the door. Then he's all over the office walking in my way making me side step to get around him. No excuse me or sorry about that. He wanted what he wanted and to hell with anyone else. To me that's as rude as a no thank you. I think monday I may have a chat with mr. rude and see if he's got a logical excuse for being so rude. If this is how he treats office personel then how does he treat his customers? It's all about being polite and courteous and remembering your manners.

Thank you, MsDoe! I don't think I could fix anyone, but am happy to help if I can.

Sometimes, I tend to overthink politeness.
For example, we have an elevator at work before the exit door. If I am in the elevator with someone, I would want to hold the door open for them but that means barging out the elevator first to be able to do that to get to the door first.

But if I usher them out the elevator first with an "after you" and wave of my hand, it means they have to hold the door open for me. So am I being rude or not?

The story above reminded me of the fear men sometimes have of PC rules. If a guy held the door open for you, would that make him a sexist and demean your "power"? So, better off he treat women exactly the same as men with zero differences. If he is impolite with guys, then he naturally should be bad with women, also. Otherwise he is a sexist.

So, in a very twisted way, the fact he was rude to you by not holding open the door may mean he respects you enough not to demean you by treating you differently.

Also, I think politeness is dependent upon the current situation at hand. Social rules are somewhat fluid. It is perfectly acceptable to wear a bikini at a beach. But now imagine wearing one at a fancy dinner party. Different situation, so the rules change.

Apparently it is considered acceptable (not by me) for sportspeople to spit on the pitch they are playing on during a sporting event. But now imagine someone doing the same thing at work or home.

Social rules are quite fascinating from an anthropology standpoint. Why do people do what they do? And why do we imbue these small rituals with such emotion?

The OP happens in real life everyday. I have had people come up to me and just start "Where is the.... How do I get to the..." without the introductory "Hi, I was wondering if you could help me?". Heck, even the "Hi" would be good enough.

But all that is just a social dance that we do. So many rules in society. Many of them quite silly.