A Lesson in Tactfulness

[Aegis]

Uh, that wasn't one of the traits she talked about. My point in that is that people act pretty much the same everywhere and the mix of tactful and tactless seems pretty constant.

Are you saying, then, that cultural differences in this area don't exist?

I'd agree that there is far more variation within cultures than between them, but there's huge bodies of evidence about behavioural differences between cultures.

[Teryaani]

Are you saying, then, that cultural differences in this area don't exist?

I'd agree that there is far more variation within cultures than between them, but there's huge bodies of evidence about behavioural differences between cultures.

I'm saying that the capacity for tact is the same regardless of where you come from.

[Aegis]

I'm saying that the capacity for tact is the same regardless of where you come from.

But not the prevalence

[Teryaani]

But not the prevalence

I disagree. You're trying to paint North America and Western Europe as some rude, rolling fist fight and Japan as some paragon of good manners. Neither of those things are true. The reality is much more gray.

[Aegis]

I disagree. You're trying to paint North America and Western Europe as some rude, rolling fist fight and Japan as some paragon of good manners. Neither of those things are true. The reality is much more gray.

Whu? Wh.. What?

You're the one who accused someone of Nationalism (though I have no idea what Nation that player comes from, apparently you do and it's not Western) and racism against an entire hemisphere.

Not at all, I use UK/USA as the 'baseline' of tact as it's what I've grown up with. From this point I then assess whether someone is tactful or tactless based on that standard.

I am just stating that Japanese culture is one of politeness, conflict-avoidance and circumspection that results in tact. If someone asks you how you are in Japan, the only answer is 'Fine, thank you'. No other answer is acceptable because of the obligation it would put on someone else to care. If that's not tact, I don't know what is.

[Teryaani]

I am just stating that Japanese culture is one of politeness, conflict-avoidance and circumspection that results in tact. If someone asks you how you are in Japan, the only answer is 'Fine, thank you'. No other answer is acceptable because of the obligation it would put on someone else to care. If that's not tact, I don't know what is.

rac·ism
ˈrāˌsizəm/
noun
noun: racism

the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.


***

Tact isn't lying. Tact is knowing how to phrase something in a way that is less damaging to the listener.


tact
takt/
noun
noun: tact

adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.

Notice that it doesn't say lying there. Just being aware of other's feelings.

[Aegis]

rac·ism
ˈrāˌsizəm/
noun
noun: racism

the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

Race and culture are not the same thing. Japanese and Chinese people are essentially the same ethnic group (the populations diverged comparatively recently) but culturally they could hardly be more different.

on an unrelated note, there *are* differences between races. Northern Europeans are taller than Southern Europeans, African-Americans are more prone to hypertension and diabetes than European Americans, lactose intolerance is more common in mongoloid races etc etc. Apparently its racist to know this. I wonder if doctors that use this knowledge to tailor care plans are aware they are being racist. Perhaps the drug companies should stop developing phenotype-variations for their drugs.