A Lesson in Tactfulness

[Aegis]

Yay! Nationalism and possible racism!

TIL: Western is a race

Slightly more seriously: Japanese players are a great deal more circumspect, which can pass for tactful in a bad light. When I was studying Japanese, our teacher asked us how that Japanese say "No" we answered "Iye" and she told us that was wrong. Japanese people say "Maybe" or "Yes", but extend the sound as if the sentence were to continue when they mean "No" to avoid the confrontation and disappointment outright refusal creates.

eg.

EN: "That was a great party, I think we almost made it to twisters by the 40th attempt! Let's party again next time we're both on, OK?!"
JP: "Maybe, sure...."

or

EN: "Yoshi-P, when will we have more housing wards/plots"
Y: "We are looking into doing this, please look forward to it..."

snip

I bet you're a blast at parties.

[Teryaani]

TIL: Western is a race

Slightly more seriously: Japanese players are a great deal more circumspect, which can pass for tactful in a bad light.

Did I say possible? Sorry, definite.

When I was studying Japanese,

I think I found the root of the issue. This isn't something you gleaned from actually interacting with people, its something you picked up in language class. I'll say it again, tact isn't cultural/national/racial. It's something you learn with interacting with others.

To your language point, every group has it's own linguistic bits that allow them to signal each other (My favorite is the southern idiom "Bless his heart") without appearing to be rude.

[Aegis]

Did I say possible? Sorry, definite.

I think I found the root of the issue. This isn't something you gleaned from actually interacting with people, its something you picked up in language class. I'll say it again, tact isn't cultural/national/racial. It's something you learn with interacting with others.

To your language point, every group has it's own linguistic bits that allow them to signal each other (My favorite is the southern idiom "Bless his heart") without appearing to be rude.

It's actually something a 50-something year old Japanese woman who is paid to teach Japanese language and culture taught me. I assume she knows what she is talking about. Bless his heart isn't really a Southern thing, it's common in the UK too. It can be affectionate or patronising depending on how it's used. Often both.

[Teryaani]

It's actually something a 50-something year old Japanese woman who is paid to teach Japanese language and culture taught me. I assume she knows what she is talking about. Bless his heart isn't really a Southern thing, it's common in the UK too. It can be affectionate or patronising depending on how it's used. Often both.

And my French professor in college was an elderly woman who grew up in the south of France. From her I heard all sorts of things about the French character which after meeting and working with actual French people turned out to be nothing more than a pile of stereotypes that applied to none of them. Her job as a language teacher is to get you interested in the language and culture and you will get a very rose colored glasses view of it.