Earlier quoted context omitted.
This way of behaving in life is a very "rat each other out" choice from the prisioner's dilemma. Whenever I notice someone plays this game of shifting overton window instead of just stating what they want, specially at work, I can never take them seriously again.
Wouldn't it be better described as haggling? Weve already got a word for it, and it's the polite thing to do in a lot of cultures
What I mean are social situations that are way more complex like if you tell me I need to let you pass me in some queue because your grandma is dying, but turns out you just wanted to get home quicker to relax. At work there's a lot of this stuff when people exaggerate in a malicious way assuming everyone is doing it, and I can't stand it.
If we're haggling I know what we're doing and I'll also haggle.