Servility is so baked into the populace by years of abuse at school and work (and sometimes home) that assertiveness looks like arrogance.
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When you start holding your own space, it's astonishing how many people will try to violate it and then complain about your "arrogant attitude" when they don't get to.
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Refusing to show deference to people who pretend at a stature you don't afford them is an amazingly quick way to make enemies.
It's almost shocking how dependent some people are on acting higher status than thou.