[ipython]

Believe me, these people don’t give a shit. I am well aware of cultural differences across regions. They see your meddling questions as just another annoyance in their day and the faster they can get you to go away the better. 99% of their patients don’t know to ask, so you are just seen as a pedantic pain in the ass.

Your point of cognitive dissonance is an interesting one. But ultimately it doesn’t matter what their state of mind is; if you are treated badly as a patient you will just give up to save your own mental energy. After all you’re seeing a doctor because something is wrong already. Why am I layering on managing the precious feelings of the doctors back office personnel on top of all that too?

[sh34r]

No one is perfect, and too often, stress makes people behave in ways they're not proud of. That's mostly understandable. But I think you're vastly overstating the mental burden of trying to be kind and having a bit of empathy in general.

Why bother? Because they're just working stiffs trying to put food on the table like the rest of us. They're not responsible for the existence of this detestable system any more than you are.