Conversation

2x2: X: Ask vs guess culture Y: No-taboo culture vs yes-taboo culture (ie whether or not you’re allowed to say yes/no baldly) Ask+no-taboo = shameless exploits Ask+yes-taboo = timidity tax Guess+no-taboo = unintended awkwardness Guess+yes-taboo = disconnection
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Yes taboos and no taboos both create ambiguity where some shades of yes mean no, and vice versa. It’s a stronger variable than ask/guess. Guessers have to anticipate a shade of yes/no and askers have to interpret a shade of yes/no.
Replying to
I tend to be guess+yes-taboo (ie my answer is usually a shade of no even when I kinda mean yes). I have no problem saying no, but I do hesitate to say yes unambiguously. Trying to get better at it.
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