You see smiling at the receptionist for five minutes a day as an unacceptable working condition; but you need to understand that part of keeping a job you like includes managing your coworkers.

it’s not only smiling, it’s giving attention to somebody I dislike that tires me.

I have no problem with work friendship that grow naturally, but they have to grow… naturally. Placing me in a environment with an instruction like ‘be friends with these people’ doesn’t work for me.

You write managing your coworkers, even if I’m a coworker myself and not a manager. Ain’t that a manager’s job?

about your second paragraph: you’re such a good actor. I’m too transparent.

I have myself occasionally had coworkers or other call me rude or condescending, and I’ve never really found a way out from under that when it’s happened.

and people who hear them complain are not mature enough to ask for the other side before jumping to conclusions, you mean…