Hormat menghormati sehingga point tak sampai...

There was a discussion in one of the mailing lists that I subscribe to. I will not quote the whole discussion but one paragraph attracted my attention. It really invited me to think. It started when one person sent an invitation to an event. Another person replied saying that people should not attend. No elaboration was supplied as to why people should not attend. And that resulted in this reply, which is just one of many. "Kalau suka kita nyatakan suka, kalau tak sukapun tak salah untuk nyatakan tak suka tetapi biarlah berlapik sikit." How come there is a caveat when it comes to criticism? Is it because we enjoy people saying good things about us but we cannot bear criticism, and thus the need for a "lapik"? Why is it that when people write "Saya setuju. Jom pegi ramai ramai", no one ask for an elaboration? But when another writes "Saya tak setuju. Jangan pegi", then a justification is needed? "Bukan orang lain pun, abang2 dan kakak2 kita jugak. Hormatpun kena ade gak sikit2." Why is it that to many people, "hormat" means "berlapik"? Is it disrespectful to speak up your mind in a clear and straightforward way? Can this (ie: demand for "penghormatan") be one of the reasons why we have been so slow to change despite the changes that have already taken place around us? Or perhaps this demand for "penghormatan" is merely a tool used by those who do not want to change and / or those who want to maintain the status quo? Lastly, let me say clearly that this is not a criticism towards any particular email. It is more of myself thinking aloud. And what came to my mind were questions. Not denigrations.