It is very important, especially during disagreements. My experience is that we live in an increasingly violent society, populated by more and more disturbed people. Widespread substance abuse has exacerbated this problem in the past few decades. Things can easily escalate out of control and they do: witness all the beatings, people going ballistic in the middle of the street, gunplay over parking spaces, over mild arguments. By approaching people and problems politely, we put as many emotional stages as possible between us and a crisis.