I personally might try to say something like that simply to show that I respect who you are, and am willing to learn if it helps the comfort level between us. But, yeah, unfortunately a lot of people can be jerks for a variety of reasons - and it’s difficult to discern people’s real motivations, so I can appreciate how you feel the need to play it that way. I hope you’re doing okay, considering how far down the shithole this country has gone over the past decade plus. I can’t imagine what you have to put up with.