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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Let me add my perspective as a German.<br>
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<font color="#505050">Mateusz Konieczny via osmf-talk, 2020-08-19
06:28:</font><br>
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<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:MF3yUjO--3-2@tutanota.com">
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<div>Part of that is kind of hard to avoid - my knowledge about
cultural norms is limited,<br>
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<div>but AFAIK <br>
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<div><br>
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<div>(1) in some cultures saying "no" to proposal means "you are
stupid, worthless,<br>
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<div>and so below my status that I can openly reject your ideas"
and to reject<br>
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<div>proposal you praise it weakly and not very effectively<br>
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<div><br>
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<div>(2) in some cultures saying "no" to proposal means that you
disagree with a <br>
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<div>proposal and praising proposal weakly means that you agree
with it and support it<br>
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<div><br>
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<div>As result discussion where (2) mode dominates will be
considered offensive<br>
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<div>to people from (1) culture and it is kind of hard to fix that
(assuming that such disconnect<br>
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<div>actually exists, see initial disclaimer).<br>
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<div><br>
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<div>I have seen claims describing it as USA vs Germany conflict
with USA being closer to (1)<br>
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<div>and Germany being closer to (2).<br>
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<div><br>
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</blockquote>
<br>
Germans, particularly those without experience with non-European
cultures, will not act close to (2) but exactly as (2). If you want
a German to understand that you do not agree with his suggestion
then you better include the word 'no' in your answer. Of course you
can and should be polite by adding an explanation why you disagree.<br>
<br>
In my first encounter with Malaysians I had substantial trouble
decrypting their ways of saying 'no'. Just avoiding a clear answer
to a question did not convey that message to me.<br>
<br>
On the other hand, do not expect Germans to say 'awesome',
'brilliant' or 'fantastic' in every second sentence. To us this
sounds ridiculously exaggerated to the extent as if someone were
mocking at us (no longer to me fortunately, I learnt that this is
common in other parts of the world). If my boss says that my work or
proposal is good then that is the best I can expect. Simply because
in our eyes it can either be bad, fair or good.<br>
<br>
As a remedy to all these problems I found some books dealing with
intercultural competence which enlarged my horizon considerably. I
am sure someone can come up with helpful websites as well.
Prominently referencing some really useful website (in clear,
non-sarcastic language so that everyone irrespective of cultural
background will get the point) e.g. in a welcome message to
subscribers to a mailing list might help to avoid such problems.<br>
<br>
Regards<br>
Michael<br>
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