Now, smokers in some places face smoking bans in certain public and private spaces, and unspoken -- and sometimes overt -- hostilities.

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"Sometimes it's very overt -- parents say, 'You must choose this major or this type of job' or 'You should not bring home As and Bs, only As, " she says.

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Sometimes officials do end up in conflict with their political masters but that conflict is rarely as overt as Yes, Prime Minister would have it.

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It takes an overt commitment to maintain a constant presence, to engage in true conversations and honest interactions, and sometimes to take a leap of faith to jump into chance encounters.

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