7 miles
When running today I thought about candidness and bluntness. There’s a bluntness to Russian culture that generally rubs Westerners the wrong way. I am Russian by birth, hence bringing this up.
There are few fake niceties and verbal webs of politeness. You don’t smile at strangers or pretend to like anything you don’t. In Russia, if something is stupid, you say it’s stupid. If someone is being an asshole, you tell them they are being an asshole. If you really like someone and are having a great time, you tell them that you like them and are having a great time. It doesn’t matter if this person is your friend, a stranger, or someone you met five minutes ago on the street. There is nothing combative about this. In the West such outspokenness is seen as highly offensive. It is perceived as rude, aggressive, mean and is just "not the norm". Sometimes it also gets to people's insecurities.
I personally love frankness, candidness and honesty, and even more as I am getting older. I appreciate it for what it really is: unadulterated expression. It is honesty in the truest sense of the word, communication with no conditions, no strings attached, no ulterior motive, no sales job, no desperate attempt to be liked. It is like experiencing a particular flavor of freedom: the ability to say whatever you think or feel, without fear of repercussion.
Having people in your life that appreciate this kind of blunt expression is rare, but once you find them it is the best thing ever - it is not only good, it is healthy and constructive (real problems can actually be discussed and solved, without dwelling on nonsense and beating around the bushes), because people trust each other.
But I also realize above is so rare :)
Comments