Dear Phrysca,

There is so much truth in what you say. I am glad you are a nice person and commend you for it.

Where I used to live people generally were taught to censor their negativity. It wasn't that these people were better than others. Far from it. They felt urges to mock, belittle, insult, antagonize and so on. But they tried to censor these.

It made for easier and more friendly living.

Where I live now, the idea is to "let it all hang out" and say whatever comes into one's thought stream. Self-censoring here is regarded as dishonest or psychologically unhealthy.

It is interesting how different cultures prioritize values.

I think being nice in words tends to spill over into actions too. It is as if a person who is habitually nice in speaking sort of tends to be nice in other ways too and tends to kindnesses. Maybe the contrary true as well. Maybe people who are crude in word tend to become crude and insensitive in action. I don't know.

Sincerely yours, Yao Wen