These two characters are discussing ヒューバート in the below, and about how he
lacks self awareness. However I am not sure why 気にされる was used instead of 気にする
here. I know that される can be used as an honorific version of する. However
knowing the character that is talking, I highly doubt that this is an
honorific usage (although I could be wrong)

> ヒューバート「あんまり偉い人が来ないなら俺たちも気楽で良いな」
>
> Person 1「ヒューバートって自分の立ち位置をよく理解していないわよね」
>
> Person 2「まあ、気にされるよりは良いだろう」
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2019-03-25T18:42:51.813
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2021-08-03T02:01:05.407
2019-03-26T00:52:03.903
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question
meaning passive-voice
Why 気にされる instead of 気にする?
I don't get much of the context, nor how the character's attitudes relate to
each other, but I were to say something,「気にされる」is used to infer that "...it's
better for ヒューバート to not take notice of **Person 1** and **Person 2** (because
it could be 面倒くさい, awkward, clunky, faux pas...etc for them).

気にされる action comes from ヒューバード, and it's better for him to not come and take
notice of Person 1 and 2 because it's meddlesome, fearful (whatever the
emotion is here). If ヒューバードー doesn't come, we can maintain our 気楽-like state.

To better understand 気にされる、think of a student being looked down up by a
teacher. There is a power difference here, a hierarchical difference, and
although you may not be able to disagree with your teacher directly, you have
alternate means of talking behind the teacher's back to avoid confrontations.
Although Western culture values individualism and directness, Japanese value
harmony and group cohesion, hence a tendency to be in a state of 気にする when the
hierarchical nature of the Japanese culture makes it difficult to express your
own opinion.

So they are 「気にする」（気にしている）, but they expressed it in a way that, simply
stated, "that it would be bothersome/troublesome/meddlesome/気にする" to be 気にされる
by ヒューバート (assuming he is of higher status). This is supported by the first
sentence: 「あんまり偉い人が来ないなら俺たちも気楽で良いな」

Apologies for redundancies, but I hoped it served to help you understand!
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2020-04-30T05:25:29.363
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2020-04-30T05:25:29.363
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answer