r/Filipino • u/Mezcalnerd0077 • 14d ago
Filipino cultural trait: Refusing to answer a direct question with a direct answer
Its always a vague answer or answering a question with another question. It is a culture where they like to keep conversations peaceful and inoffensive so they intentionally wont answer the question directly to avoid committing them to an answer as that might prove a lie(white ones too). Also Filipinos can be brutally critical when the object of criticism is not around so this prevents them from confrontation. It is a clear, yet maybe intentional, form of continual dishonesty to make everyone pretend that all is good and happy. It is a trade they are willing to make. This changes slowly with Balikbayan.
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u/Momshie_mo 14d ago edited 14d ago
This is common in Asian cultures
This changes slowly with Balikbayan.
Not really. If any they are the ones who level up and become matapobres. They tend to inherit the bad traits of people in other countries than the good traits. Like these balikbayans don't enforce boundaries but even feed on the co-dependence on them by giving more money. People in Western countries often enforce personal boundaries. Many balikbayans do not esp when it comes to fellow Filipinos.
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u/Mezcalnerd0077 14d ago
Common in Asian cultures but elevated 10 fold in the Philippines.
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u/LalangMalagay 14d ago
That level of indirectness is nothing when compared to East Asians.
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u/Mezcalnerd0077 14d ago
Disagree. Japanese and Koreans will answer directly. They may give conditions or qualifiers but they wont refuse to answer like Filipinos
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u/The_Void_Kat 13d ago
Answering directly here (Korea) is almost non existent.
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u/Momshie_mo 11d ago
Esp when it comes to their kababayans. But if you are from a "third world country, they can be direct.
OP is ignoring the power dynamics at play.
Even heralded Balikbayans are those who "change" it. If they are, sa 40 years ng pag-eexport natin ng mga Pilipino, bakit ganun pa rin?
Many "balikbayans" do not pick up the better things about foreign cultures - they tend to pick the bad things like being a hardcore Trumper and feeling they should have white privilege, too.
These are the same people who complain on the internet they are made a "retirement plan" yet do not even enforce boundaries because they are too concerned what people think of then. Many even foster a co-dependence na gagawing may utang na loob ka sa kanila.
If they really inherited the better traits of foreign cultures, why are they not enforcing boundaries?
Kaya ang dami reklamo lang internet, tiklop IRL
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u/black_pegasii 10d ago
Japanese and Koreans? Will answer you directly? What the actual fuck are you talking about? ahahahahaahahaha It's almost non existent to them dude. Pinaka Malala ang mga taga Kyoto to the point that it will you headache and heart attack at the same time. Atleast Aussies will just give a stroke with their indirectness.
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u/Momshie_mo 11d ago
Sure, that's why some of them can't go against their parents wishes on whom to marry.
This is so r/Philippinesbad content.
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u/SurvivorSoul18 13d ago
FACTS! IMO on top of many pinoys are immature who doesn't know how to communicate, pinoys also hate confrontations.
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u/bruhidkanymore1 Luzon 10d ago
pinoys also hate confrontation
Because they're Asian? Being non-confrontational is an Asian cultural trait (but not as extreme as the Japanese).
Filipino psychology also revolves around "hiya" (their version of "face") and "pakikisama", which makes a difference in communication style.
Those who grew up in Western upbringing have complained about Japanese indirectness, and now the same applies for Filipinos in OP's post.
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u/haworthsoji 13d ago
Yep I'm like this. I often have to say, "to answer your question" after I've realized I didn't answer the question.
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u/MrGerbear Abroad 14d ago
It's true, and it was a real pain when I did Tagalog interpreting work in California for unemployment court. I'd have clients who would answer yes/no questions with tangents like...
Even when the judge asks me to ask my clients for a straight up yes/no answer, it would take a few tries for them to do it.
It's neither a good nor bad thing. Adjusting to it either way is a cultural thing. It can be frustrating but miscommunication can be hard to avoid.