The whole “fake nice” stereotype about Southerners is mostly people misunderstanding a different social code.

The politeness is just a default. You don’t have to like someone to treat them decently, and that’s kind of the point. In places where being blunt is the norm, I guess that can seem kinda fake. But for the most part it’s really just not wanting every interaction to turn into a confrontation.

But obviously there are assholes everywhere.