> at the risk of not being politically correct I don't think it's so controversial to claim that different cultures have different default communication styles

> at the risk of not being politically correct I don't think it's so controversial to claim that different cultures have different default communication styles. Israelis aren't the only ones who tend to be more direct than the average Californian. I usually appreciate it: corporate speech tends to dance around the point a bit, and bluntness saves time and clarifies where people stand. That said, I can also understand how some people would be taken aback or intimidated by excessive bluntness, especially from a superior.