It's good to always mag tanong & see how you can improve yourself. Nobody is perfect after all. But do not change for other people. Change kasi yun ang paniwala mo will make you a better person sa mata ng God.
Respeto? Tama ka -- dapat lahat bigyan ng respect, que mayaman o mahirap. Maganda o pangit, educated or otherwise.
Teka, sa pagka gets ko -- hindi ka naman binabastos di ba? Baka ibig mo say, sila lang lagi nasusunod? Yung gusto or decision nila, hindi iyo, ang laging nasusunod? Hindi disrespect sa yo yon. Ano yon: Money is power. Or, Money talks. Hehe. Or: Ako matanda, ako masusunod. Or, it's democracy: mas marami sila sa kaliwa ang takbo, ikaw kanan -- so, talo
Ask mo: ok ba maging plastic? Ano definition mo ng plastic? Yung pinakikisamahan ng mahusay kasi kelangan pakisamahan, kahit hindi mo type yung tao.
Kung biyenans mo yan -- oo, makipag plastic ka. Tingin ko, hindi ka plastic. Hindi mo nga pina pansin. Kasi hindi ka rin pinapansin. Hindi yan plastic. Tit for tat tawag dyan
IMO, may mga situation or tao kelangan magpaka plastic ka -- once you marry. For practical reasons, & part of the "right conduct & good manners" package. Career or family ng husband mo - pwes, kelangan pakisamahan.
But if definition mo ng plastic Eh yung you pretend ganito or ganyan ka -- pero hindi naman true --gusto mo kasi mahulog loob sa yo -- Tawag dyan pretense or story-telling-a-lie.
What am I trying to say?
Respect is due every human being, it is what (among other things/skills/capabilities) -- sets us above all living forms. If we gotta feign respect ("plastic") or goodwill: fine, preserve the peace. Note though: I did not say "fawn" nor lick a*s ha.
Letting a person or group live out their preferences or exercise their clout -- is respect in terms of: Live & let live. Walang basagan ng trip. BUT this respect is questioned when a negative impact (usually harm to, or disrespect of another) results. If being plastic is walang basagan ng trip: fine. But if being plastic means allowing negative consequences to go unabated, that's beyond being plastic, it's becoming a victim or becoming an accessory/enabler to what's not ok.
Being "plastic" requires judgment: when it is right to keep your mouth shut.
It is not snobbery, or the mirroring of indifference though.
Being "plastic" per se is not bad. It may just be the newer term for "good manners & right conduct". Or, another way to say/do: "Patience is a virtue".
My opinions, what do I know anyway? My in-laws are very lovable & love me. Except for a SIL. Naki plastic plastic smile & avoid, watch what I say in her company ... Until she lost it and verbally attacked me . Epiphany! I had more to say about her, the floodgates opened. I am not proud of being provoked and rendering crispy judgment (though true & satisfying coz straight to her face, with a captive audience). IMO, better if we both went plastic plastic though I gained more respect and gravitas (and fear? Hahaha) from all my in-laws thereafter.