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> US natives will usually phrase everything in a manner that creates the least social friction in any given interaction

This person has clearly never been to Asia, where a whole different level of this exists.

My experience (as non-American, non-Asian) has been the interaction was actually somewhat easier in Japan or China, because you don't expect a smooth communication to begin with and both sides are not speaking in their native tongue.

When you're in the US you have the false sense that you actually understand what's being said, while in truth learning the actual meaning can take a while.

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