4 ms·
This isn't an honesty thing. Many cultures (both in terms of social culture and work culture) have a strong aversion to saying no. Some languages barely have a
by pacaro 7y ago
This isn't an honesty thing. Many cultures (both in terms of social culture and work culture) have a strong aversion to saying no. Some languages barely have a word for it.
Even when those aren't issues yes/no questions rarely have the precision that you want, often you can phrase a question to seem like it only has a binary answer, but the real answer is way more complicated. Basic project management principles come into play here. As other posters have commented, asking what someone will be working on first, setting up tracking tasks etc.
- vwuon 7y agoIf lying blatantly is a part of Indian culture then Indian culture must change.
- engineeringwoke 7y agoLying is a big part of most of the world's cultures. The northern Europeans are unique in that they have such an aversion to it.
- ethbro 7y agoOne person's lie is another person's cultural expectation. It's ironic you're lamenting Indian cultural inflexibility, while simultaneously imposing your own by refusing to simply reword a question. Engineers get results with the world they're given, not the world they wish they had.
- vwuon 7y ago>It's ironic you're lamenting Indian cultural inflexibility, while simultaneously imposing your own by expecting people not to lie* ftfy. Sorry for imposing my own twisted, vile view of the world: expecting people to be honest.
- ethbro 7y agoNo apology needed. :) We each have a right to our own perspectives on the world.
- lotsofpulp 7y ago> Engineers get results with the world they're given, not the world they wish they had. Evidence I see points to better engineering results from countries that don’t “culturally” lie.
- belltaco 7y agoWith anectdata, yes.
- hibbelig 7y agoIf you ask an American "How are you?", they will respond "Fine, how are you?". If you ask a German "How are you?", they will tell you they caught a flu and they bumped their toe on the way to the bathroom. As a German, it's hard work for me to respond appropriately to the American question. But I understand that I don't blame the American for being dishonest. It's even harder for me to work with the Indian "yes", but I understand they don't mean to be dishonest.