[Mageia-discuss] Cultural difference: "Let your yes be yes" <---> "It is rude to say no"

Sat Jul 14 09:06:10 CEST 2012

Frank Griffin wrote:
+
+> On 07/12/2012 06:01 PM, Johnny A. Solbu wrote:
+>> I tend to not answer the question,
+> 
+> I think you're missing the point.  In some cultures, not giving offense
+> trumps telling the truth.
+> 
+> I've found this to be the case in the past with the Japanese on IT
+> matters.  When they say "yes" they really mean "I understand the request
+> you are making", not "I am committing to doing it".  They expect you to
+> know that what you are asking is (in their view) unreasonable.
+
+Think of it as a translation problem.  They don't have words 
+for, "you", "library", "book shop", or "yes".  Their nearest 
+equvalents are roughly back translated as, "dear", "book place", 
+"book place" (again), and "I understand the request you are making". 
+
+Good translations are very difficult.  
+
+> It's the same with the Northern Irish kids (and probably the
+> British,since it's the same school system model).  They'll agree to do
+> things they have no intention of doing because  you just should have
+> known that nobody would do that regardless of what they promised you.
+> 
+> Like I said,culture.
+
+-- 
+blind Pete
+Sig goes here...  
+
+