Human glory and the limiting outer boundaries

Just today, due to an incident that involved both Germans and the jokes they are a part of, I was reminded of several key elements of "professional" American workplace etiquette. These rules, which I do not readily identify with but automatically succumb to, are arbitrary and destroy the souls of over a quarter million people daily (as reported by the DOL). Now, as a disclaimer to the opinions stated here, at work it doesn't take much to damage my soul or to harm me personally. My view is pessimistic and my optimism is always on the edge of a deep, dirty landfill; a personal fault of my own that I am debating whether or not to work to change. I am fragile. But, I think the rules I am referring to justify my general feeling of resentment and lack of business motivation. Have you ever read a corporate etiquette manual? Here's a sample from mannersandprotocol.com:

Benefits of Etiquette and Protocol Intelligence
-Projects confidence and authority
-Gives you the edge to cultivate long lasting relationships with clients and associates
-Projects a positive and respected image in the business community
-Builds teamwork among professionals

Here's another example that will surely work wonders:

Gina DeLapa, founder of Real-World Etiquette and graduate of The Protocol School of Washington®, brings years of experience as a business editor and university career counselor, and more importantly, a fun, interactive style that gets results. Transform your employees—regardless of their age or background—into a winning team.

...get transformed. And believe me, that will eventually happen. My soul may be weak at times, but my resistance level to manipulation is fairly high, and well tuned to this lewd commotion. Then again, who can argue against better authoritative projection and overall confidence used to persuade enemies? Not me.

What the manuals tell you is to do things right. Do things to please your father, son. Allow the feeling to enter your frontal lobe. Gina Delapa says this is fun, interactive, and gets results. I disagree.

What you can't do at work is bound to hurt you. You can't put up pictures of the band you used to be in, wear improper clothing, make misplaced jokes (but not clearly offensive), resort to occasional violent language (or activity), or do a fist pump with the top clients. This, we are told, is poor etiquette.

The boundaries cease to allow us to live naturally and suffocate our principals. The boundaries keep us caged and under arrest in a pseudo-free world. I am an advocate for crushing through the boundaries and sailing without resistance into the real world. I sincerely recommend any behavior beyond the convention, and support your right to proceed with it. I am today's 100,000th casualty of corporate etiquette. Today, a piece of me was mortally crippled and will wilt in the October sun to a mere raisin. Be aware. Protect yourself.

Etiquette:
The practices and forms prescribed by social convention or by authority (read arbitrary and unessary rules of a dangerous game)