Do you think that Americans are too direct?

[Pekka]

Tuome, true.

[Lincoln]

In Thailand if someone says I will meet you here tomorrow at 5, you may as well go fishing. You are more likely to see the person you made an apointment with there. There is a Thai word though for "absolutely, positively, for sure..." Then maybe he will be there.

[Spiffor]

I too favor the direct approach, and I think too many of my fellows value sugarcoat too much. When I'm in Germany, it is a relief.

All 'Verboten' signs finish with a '!' here in Stuttgart, and adress to you with 'du' (this is a 'you' that you adress to children or friends)

[Odin]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
I agree completely. Personally, this is one of my biggest pet peeves. If you mean "no", then say "no". Adults should not need to sugarcoat their responses, nor should their feelings be hurt because disagrees with you, or does not want to do something. If you use a response that equates to "maybe" then people will often take that as maybe and will need to prepared for if the maybe will change to a yes. Say what you really mean so there is no doubt about your position. On the extreme of this, there are some people will say yes but then still act as if they had said no.

PARTY TIME! I acctually agree with Shi and Sloww for once!

BTW Sloww, US NORTHERNERS ARN'T LOUD, YOU SOUTHERNERS ARE TOO QUIET.

[Zero]

Ask toughUSAguy...

oh yeah he got banned.

[Vandal-1]

We are direct but employ honorifics such as sir or madam in directing insults on our superiors.sensitivity is usually regaded as weak however.This is just concise comunications

[JCG]

I find them too indirect actually....but I could say the same about half a dozen other nationalities.

[Narz]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Americans aren't direct enough. People should say what they mean, rather then leave the person wondering what they mean.

I agree. Most people I've met (in America) are a bunch of pussyfooters!