The games people play and masks they wear: Sincerity versus politeness.

 Sincerity and politeness are two qualities that can sometimes be in conflict with each other. Sincerity refers to the quality of being genuine, honest, and straightforward, while politeness is the quality of being considerate and respectful towards others.

In social interactions, people may sometimes feel pressure to be polite, even if it means not being completely sincere. For example, someone might say "I'm fine, thank you" when asked how they are, even if they are feeling upset or distressed, in order to avoid appearing rude or ungrateful. This can be seen as a kind of "mask" that people wear in order to maintain social harmony and avoid causing offense.

On the other hand, being sincere can also be important in maintaining trust and building genuine relationships. If people are constantly hiding their true feelings or intentions behind a facade of politeness, it can be difficult to build trust and have authentic interactions.

Ultimately, the balance between sincerity and politeness will depend on the context and the specific goals of the interaction. In some situations, it may be more important to prioritize politeness and avoid causing offense, while in others it may be more important to be open and honest in order to build trust and establish a deeper connection.