My understanding of Mattieu Bock-Côté's article is that he is (as he has so often done in the past), deploring what-he-perceives-to-be another example of an unnecessary and unjustifiable impoverishment of the French language as spoken by many his Francophone compatriots. He is not opposed to establishing "amicable" relationships with strangers, with service personal in restaurants and cafés, with teachers, with colleagues, or with anyone else with whom one has not yet developed a sound and mutual "intimate" relationship. He is opposed to the "false intimacy" and "disrespect" that the virtually automatic "tutoiement" (amongst many Québécers) implies. As an ardent defender of the French language, Mattieu Bock-Côté is making -- yet another -- appeal to his fellow citizens to "up their game" when expressing themselves in the language of their shared linguistic heritage.LesRonces wrote: Find it interesting that being friendly to people you have just met can be considered a poor trait !
Addendum: I just took a look at the "Readers' Comments" that are appended to the bottom of the article. In reaction, I closed my eyes, raised my open hand to my forehead, and shook my head in despair.
EDITED: Addendum