I remember watching an episode of Cheers a long time ago, and one of the characters made the remark that, “you can get more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.”
Woody responded, “Yeah, but a dead squirrel gets the most.”
I think there’s actually some wisdom in that statement. A dead squirrel is much more useful to a fly than honey is. Honey just feeds the fly, but the dead squirrel provides it a place to lay eggs and reproduce–to allow its genes to continue. And you get used to the smell after a while I’m sure.
I think what I’m getting at here is that you don’t always have to be sweet, as long as you are useful. Or something like that.
Someone who’s articulate should take that idea, expand on it, and write a book.