[sdwr]

#2 is the truest statement ever stated. Other examples of the form are "people say things about themselves that are really about you", or "things about someone else that are really about themselves".

Indirection (and proxies!!) are cornerstones of human communication. I've found it reasonably helpful to test all strong statements through those 3 lenses.

[kaoD]

I don't think this is a human trait but rather something ingrained in your particular culture.

This doesn't feel right at all from my culture's perspective. We are not indirect at all.

[agumonkey]

I need to find a way to deal with it (in me and others) beside avoiding social interactions :)