February 28th, 2013, 10:52 pm
That example is more a matter of etiquette than evidence that the French are more agreeable than other cultures.It is rude to complain about the quality of a meal, especially if you have been invited. You would just eat as much as you could, thank your host and take care not to visit that restaurant again.As far as being direct goes, so much depends on context and how well you know the person to whom you are speaking.Then you also have to consider the genders, age, class, upbringing and motivations.Finally - is the conversation in person, in private or public space, by telephone, or as in this case, over the Internet?Lots of room for nuances, even while you are trying to convey something clearly, and sometimes when you would think you could be direct, you can't for diplomatic reasons, or the person will not understand anyway, even when you are hitting them right over the head with something.
Last edited by
trackstar on February 28th, 2013, 11:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.