[YZF]

Australians and Israelis can also be pretty direct. In the USA I always had the impression that the east coast (specifically NYC) is more direct than what you find on the west coast.

It seems much better to say outright that you think something is stupid vs. thinking it's stupid and pretending it's not. In cultures where it's common people can take it, in cultures where it's not common you're perceived to be an offensive jerk.

[warlog]

Agreed. West coast snowflakes get bent out of shape at the least hint of directness, honesty (esp. about their shit startup ideas) and criticism.

I've also found Germans to be pretty straight shooters. On a scale of Duty to Californian, their def. closer to Dutch.

[warent]

Somehow neutral directness of truth always gets mixed up as being equal to name-calling (e.g. "snowflakes"), but that isn't about bringing clarity at all; it's just attempting to lower another person or group in order to prop oneself up. The difference in language is subtle but they serve very different purposes.