lip service

"u okay mate?" that is all a person who accidently runs you over with his car has to say, and he is deemed polite. despite being a prick for running you over, people down under believe in being polite. if you, on the other hand, after being run over, decide to naturally vent your anger by swearing or cursing, you will be considered rude.
my rental agency is polite. they never sorted out any of my problems. but they always made false promises in a polite manner. i was rude, for raising my voice just slightly, kind of demanding when action will be taken to repair my leaky roof, faulty oven, and broken air conditioner. the agency - which collects my rental (paid on time) and does not comply to the rental agreement by getting their shit in order -is never rude. all they need to do is answer the phone politely and tell me things will be done. things are never done, but they are not rude.
welcome to australia. everything has to do with tone and manner here. nothing to do with what gets done - simply what is promised. delivery is secondary. while communications and team work is stressed upon like the choice of a good beer, it is in reality as rare as kevin rudd making sense.
but yet things get done, sometimes ... ok ... most of the time. sometimes at a speed which may astound many. dont know how this happens, but it does. thank god it does. otherwise, we will end up being simply polite, with nothing else to be thankful for.
did i say we?