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“That's What You Get (For Being Polite)”

Date range confirmed in Mike Smallcombe’s “Making Michael” (“In the summer of 1978, Michael was ready to enter the studio with Quincy. But his brothers wanted him to prioritise The Jacksons’ next album, Destiny, the first the group were to write and produce as a whole. After years of disappointing sales it was a make or break album for the brothers, and Michael reluctantly agreed to put family ahead of his own solo ambitions.”)

Michael Jackson, co-writer, “Moonwalk” autobiography

“That’s What You Get for Being Polite” was my way of letting on that I knew I wasn’t living in an ivory tower and that I had insecurities and doubts just as all older teenagers do. I was worried that the world and all it had to offer could be passing me by even as I tried to get on top of my field.

Tito Jackson, co-writer, “The MJCast” Episode 50

All the songs that we wrote at that time, they had meaning to them. We were either writing about our mother or the drummer in our group (Jonathan Moffett), because we thought he was a great kid, but he just did things the wrong way. He was too nice to people, which got him in trouble.

Marlon Jackson, co-writer, “The Sydney Morning Herald” (March 30, 1980) (archived)

"There's this person who's doing things for people and they back-stab him and that's what he gets for being polite. He's not happy with his life and things don't turn out the way he wants them to," Marlon explained.