I am trying so hard to let people continue to be who they are.

I am trying so hard to let people continue to be who they are. But I'm not having any success. It makes so much more sense to smile politely and have a superficial R'ship instead of expecting reciprocal sincerity, integrity and loyalty. Enforcing your boundaries time and again is exhausting and I have always withdrawn after giving it my all and receiving nothing but selfish manipulation. I cannot seem to find the balance between honesty and practicality.  

My smart-assedness and humour is actually a defence mechanism. But it has protected me well by allowing me to hide behind it. That way everything is just fun & games. People think I am a flake and leave me alone.