Criticism can be rude. I am a huge fan of harsh truths. It isn't a good idea coat yourself in the comfort of assumptions. > By your telling, your problem is

Criticism can be rude. I am a huge fan of harsh truths. It isn't a good idea coat yourself in the comfort of assumptions. > By your telling, your problem is being surrounded by idiots and weaklings Not idiots. That is not related. I do think of people who have trouble with confrontations as weak. These could be situations that are rude, but not necessarily. Personally, I tend to prefer rudeness to dishonesty. I find it inconvenient when people lie to me and allow me to continue failing merely to save themselves (not me) the inconvenience of a minor correction. I think this is the very nature of what many people might consider to be an asshole though.