As someone that’s an introvert and has social anxiety I’m usually caught off guard when people do speak to me. All I can manage is a smile and a nod or a very quiet hi. I just want to get to where I’m going and back home with the least interaction as possible. That’s as polite as I can be. I will say though that if someone says something to my lo(little one) I always have them say someone back. But my lo is also an extrovert and craves human interaction.

I didn’t vote on the poll because I’m not sure that your version of politeness fits me.

Perhaps you should add another option: "I am polite when warranted"
I am vegetating in caravan park, small community, I started greeting when I came with about about 2 metres (metre is a civilised measurement equivalent to about 3 feet plus sales tax) but when there was no reply after several attempts I stopped. I find it extremely weird especially in an enclosed space when someone passes at less than 05 of a metre (metre is a civilised measurement equivalent to about 3 feet plus sales tax) and the persons walks past without acknowledging my presents.

The first time I heard passengers thank a bus driver was in Australia. Now I do it and my younger daughter, now 28, always says it with a smile, even when she is not necessarily in a good mood. It a bit of a social lubricant.
One day we took the suburban train together and after exiting I started running towards the head of the train. "Daddy, where are you heading?" "I just want to say Thank you to the train driver."
Do you realise that these guys never get a word of thanks?

Before settling in Australia I lived in a could of other countries. After over 30 years in this vast open air slammer I still think Australia, perhaps just Queenland, is generally very rude. Even the politeness and courtesy is just a very thin cheap veneer. I worked as a teacher here and realised how there is no fertile ground for these qualities to take root. I often blame it on the rough sports and the macho attitude that is catered for in all the beer ads, though I really like some of them.
For many years I had the habit of turning off the engine of my car when I knew I had to spend more than a few seconds at a traffic light especially near restaurants. One day I was sitting at a red light on a popular dining strip. I knew the sequence I that I had to sit there for 90 seconds. I turned off the engine and dimmed the lights. Some guy walking past said: "Mate, your lights are off." "Thank you. I know. I turned off the engine.." His reply: "What a fucking wanker." This not really such an exceptional reaction. I wonder whether this person is now calling all the drivers of cars whose engine turn off automatically fucking wankers.
Schools do nothing to promote the old fashioned virtues. I found it an uphill struggle to convey some other ideas to my daughters. They turned out to very polite which unfortunately is often perceived as a weakness by bullies.

I find it strange when I greet people politely and they respond negatively - I wonder what they heard about me - there are a few people in my housing scheme that I have given up talking to because they are pretty ignorant and it doesn't cost me a thought - 26 people are a lot to try to get on with and if they don't like me I don't want to be around them either.

Good manors and politeness are the oil that lubricates society. You can never tell where it will turn up. I still recall a red letter day for me when I signed off welfare and started my own business. On the way I got some petrol. After paying, on my way out. I held the door open for a middle aged, middle class lady. No response, so I waited till she got to the till before saying in a loud voice "YOUR WELCOME." Not 10 minutes later and the same scene at the dole. This time it was an uncouth looking youth. The thank you`s that he gave me was heartwarming and sincere. Goes to show you.

I try very hard to use the golden rule. I do hang up on recorded robo calls but if I were a recording, I would hope all sane people would do the same.

I am generally polite, but not to religious zealots (missionary types), pushy sales people or phone solicitors.

If a person disrupts my life uninvited, they do not deserve politeness, because they themselves are rudely disrupting my life.

I try to be polite to everyone.

The only way to be!

I am polite, my Mom did her homework well

I’m polite to everyone. But I do not tolerate intolerance. And if you decide to crack back on me, be prepared for my response. I may be polite, but I am no doormat

I am sometimes mistaken for impolite when I fail to make or return a verbal greeting or eye contact.

Social anxiety is a thing, people. Eye contact and speaking can be very difficult and uncomfortable for some. There are some days I'd much rather be mistakenly interpreted as rude than look someone in the eye.

I try to avoid people. It lessens the chances of me being impolite.

I believe that having good manners is an indication of character. I don't remember the actual quote so I'm probably going to mangle it, but someone once said that you can tell a lot about the basic character of an individual by looking at how they treat people they don't HAVE to be nice to.

At least intend to be. This poll doesn't capture good intentions gone wrong

I think I’m polite,but I’m sure I have my moments...

Unless they act like idiots then I can be quite abrupt

I be polite to everyone, until if and when they give me personal reason to do otherwise.

You didn't list 'Polite to almost everyone' . I am a tall, large, weightlifting, bald man who can look intimidating so I try to put out a friendly and polite vibe. Come to think of that's the kind of person I usually am anyway.

When I was a shaven headed, goatee'd metalhead dressed head to toe in black I went out of my way to be polite. Never lost the habit.

I am so glad that my Mama raised me to have good manners. "Manners maketh man."

I work in a field where it is acceptable to treat service staff like shit so I go out of my way to be nice to people

Quote from my mother: "Just be nice to people."

I'm always polite to people in modest jobs (baristas, postmen, traffic wardens etc.) because most of them work hard for very little appreciation. Rich assholes, not so much.

Property laws go a lot farther than politeness.