The act of eating is a service.

[Monica]

Yes, I can see how if I decided to torture somebody, that would most likely be depolarizing! But other scenarios come to mind that aren't so straightforward, methinks.

First scenario is: Emotional entrapment. You know, the kind of person who gets butthurt at the drop of a hat? Then, supposedly because you know that some word or action is going to "cause" them to be butthurt, it becomes even more your fault (in their mind) when it happens? What I am getting at is, especially on an emotional level, there is a decision being made to suffer. People are entirely in control of how they wish to perceive a situation, and when it comes down to it, isn't most emotional suffering due to one's own perception? I'm gonna stick with the Buddha on this one!

In a case like this, intention is the determining factor. If I am just being me, and someone decides they don't like me and they get all butthurt, that isn't my fault and it's not depolarizing to me if I express myself. However, if I knowingly and consciously say or do something for the purpose of annoying or harming another person, that's entirely different. Then it's not because I'm just naturally being me, but am intentionally trying to get a reaction from someone. Intention is key.

Just as accidentally stepping on someone's toe isn't depolarizing in the least, but doing it intentionally, to harm the person, is.

Second scenario is: Necessary physical pain. Occasionally, it is necessary to suffer some form of physical pain NOW in order to avoid a greater pain, or even death, later. I can think of some really gory examples, but a rather tame one would be ingrown toenail removal. Is the doc depolarizing in causing their patient to suffer in the short term in the hopes of reducing suffering in the long term?

No. It's not so literal as that! We have to apply some common sense here. If the doc is motivated by his/her desire to help the patient, then it's polarizing positive. If, however, s/he delights in seeing the patient suffer, regardless of the final outcome, then that's not the same...