It depends. I can when it counts - like in the workplace. But in social circles, it's tough. There aren't many kinds of people I just flat out don't like, but given a reason .. I do have a hard time being phony about it.

Fisch, 47
Preston, CT   USA

Absolutely. I do it all the time with my wife's ex-husband. He's a dick and a loser but I'm polite all the same because he's also the father of our kids.

Doug2, 29
Overland Park, KS  USA

Of course. That kind of politeness is a necessity in the business world. In private life I try to avoid people I dislike, unless they are family members, in which case I treat them with cool courtesy and avoid emotional entanglements.

Jane, 62
West Linn, OR   USA

Yes I can be polite to people I do not like. I was paid to do this for 10 years.

Christopher, 28
San Mateo, CA  USA

Yes, of course you can, and you should. Not liking someone is not an excuse for rudeness. That said, I've been rude to plenty of people I don't like - but I still feel bad about it.

etoile, 21
Washington, DC  USA

Yes, I have no problem with that.

Reba, 50+
Silver Spring, MD  USA

Of course...

Luki, 31
Valhalla

Politeness is the only way to survive meetings with despicable people. Politeness and urgent business elsewhere.

Jill, 61
Saylorsburg, PA  USA

How could we manage as a society if this were not true? It may be tough, but civility is the only way we can all advance.

Felicia, 36
Lowell, MA   USA

Of course. Do it daily at work. You can't like everybody, but you still have to deal with people without causing conflict and hostility.

Triana, 29
Austin, TX   USA

it's very hard to be nice to someone who has hurt you or do not like. so peronsally I want nothing to do with them and therefore ignore them.

Brad, 21
Sydney  AUSTRALIA

Sure. I figure I only have to deal with them for a short period of time.

Janet, 44
E. Brunswick, NJ  USA

Yup.

Sarah Jane, 15
Preston, CT   USA

Yes, if I have to. I would never intentionally be rude or obnoxious in a public setting, but if that person and I were alone and they were rude to me...I would HAVE to say something!

Tracy, 24
Ocean City, NJ  USA

For limited amounts of time under good circumstances when they are being civil.....most of the time.

Firelady, 24
Frisco, TX   USA

Sure. I can be polite to anyone. Thats just a matter of courtesy.

Nicci, 27
Las Vegas, NV   USA

I think so. It's usually a very distant kind of polite, but I can do it.

Jeremy, 14
Highlands Ranch, CO  USA

of course I do, but not due to Sept 11th 2001. I hate the take offs and landings the worst and I also fear turbulence. But whenever im on a plane, it means a holiday, so Im quite happy anyway.

Brad, 21
Sydney  AUSTRALIA

Of course. I'm polite to everyone, whether I like them or not. I have this friend since 1980 and I still don't like her and she has no idea. Why hurt her feelings?

Laney
TX  USA

Sure. It's not difficult to be polite.

Laura, 37
Lowell, MA   USA

Yes I can...I have to sometimes.

Kyle, 16
OH  USA

I can be businesslike but not friendly.

Alias Irrelevante

Yes, I can.

Karen, 22
Ames, IA   USA

polite yes, friendly is pushing it sometimes

Alice, 21
Winchester  UK

Yes. I may be ready to burst inside while I'm doing it, but I can usually be gracious.

Tam

Sure, although it is not always easy.

Ryan, 29
Morton, IL   USA

Yes, I have to do it every day while I'm at work. I don't like a majority of my customers or my coworkers, but because I have no desire to get fired, I'm quite polite to them.

Hikaru, 19
PA  USA

No, I'm mean as a snake. People that I very much dislike I truly loathe. There's nothing in them that would ever prompt me to treat them like a human being. I'm terrible.

Cancer, 20
NYC, NY   USA

It depends on how you define polite. I can be polite inasmuch that I won't openly insult them or show open disrespect/animosity. However, I would not be polite if friendliness and warmth is part of your definition of "polite." I would be icy and curt and communicate with them only as much as the situation called for it.

Johanna, 18
OK  USA

Yesterday /`Tomorrow