Constructive ways to say you think something is a bad idea

englishwithkirsty.com

22 points·squircle··6 comments

This is definitely cultural. The way to tell someone in Finland that you think something is a bad idea is to say, "I think this is a bad idea".

In fact, you're basically duty bound to say it that directly if you really think that it's a bad idea. In a work environment, if it is found out that you thought something was a bad idea and you didn't say anything or said it so indirectly as to actually compliment it, you will lose reputation or get in trouble.

As a New Yorker living in Finland working with UK-based colleagues, there's a lot of code switching throughout my day.

OT have the britishisms started to annoy you? I can't stand when they add "... if that makes sense" at the end of a sentence.

"Would it be terrible inconvenient for you... <to do this mandatory, vital task>...?"

I would expect your description of Finnish values to be highly aligned with NYC values from my experience growing up near and living in NYC. How are they different if at all?

(UK obviously is pretty different)

Finland and NYC are similar enough in that respect that I didn't really experience culture shock, but NYers do value tactful softening of unpleasant news much more than Finns do. In my first years here I had more than a few conversations where I was mildly scolded by friends and family for not being even more direct when I was being as NYer direct as I knew how to be. "Oh, you don't like it? Why didn't you say so??"

for me it would be more about who you are speaking to. If i know somebody i will tell them straight that it is a bad idea. Anybody else, depends on the context or the business relation.

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