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Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by FuNe on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @06:50AM (#12000728)
Technique is what you probably missing. Try reading a classic like https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4865.How_to_Win_Friends_...

Bottom line: You can criticize as long as you wrap it up the 'right' way

Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by mclemme on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @07:25AM (#12000876)
Either you (OP) are initiating or propagating discussions for the sake of the discussion and not to solve the problem at hand OR you are simply direct and honest, which some people see as toxic, especially in large companies and institutions. In my experience you need to be more political (wrap it up the right way) in large companies and institutions.

The book FuNe suggests is a classic and a very good read. I've spent my time as a software developer and consultant in both huge, medium and small companies ranging from 1 to 50.000 employees, and the larger the size, the more the "us vs them" inter-departmental bullshit was present.

If you're the right kind of honest, you could just become a consultant and get paid 10x more per hour for being honest, for some reason people listen way more intensely to someone they pay a shitton of money to voice their opinion ;)

Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by VeejayRampay on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @07:44AM (#12000960)
Or study the British, they're the world masters at Cadbury-chocolate-covered offensive discussion.

PS: This might read as way too broad a statement or as an attack on British people, rest assured that it's not. I genuinely find the British art of social decorum absolutely fascinating and I think it can have tremendous value. Speaking as a Frenchman, I too often witness the cost of being too hot-blooded and blunt in the social rapport.

Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by dijit on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @07:59AM (#12001032)
I am British working in Sweden. xD
Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by CannisterFlux on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @08:09AM (#12001086)
Maybe you've been away for too long? :-)

Are your colleagues mostly Swedish or English/other? Do you speak in English or Swedish to them?

I can imagine if you speak English better than your colleagues then you might imperceptibly/unintentionally treat them like people less intelligent than they are due to having an accent. As a British person working in Europe I've seen it happen, non-UK colleagues I know to be very intelligent are treated ... differently... when talking to someone who speaks english natively. Maybe not "toxic", but in a way I wouldn't appreciate.

Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by dijit on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @09:00AM (#12001345)
I speak English at work, but I couldn't possibly have a superiority complex, they all speak English better than I do.
Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by anon1234321 on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @10:05PM (#12006133)
I think we found the problem. You're a raging capitalist and the Swedes are a bunch of commies.

I'm joking obviously, but maybe you'd fit in better back home. What's toxic in Sweden might be ambitious in Britain. Cultures are different.

Re:Ask HN: How do I stop myself being toxic? by cmdrfred on Wednesday June 29, 2016 @07:59AM (#12001036)
My fiance is British and you are spot on. Growing up we dealt with issues in the household directly "Hey asshole it's your turn to wash the dishes". Her family has a different more subtle approach that's hard to verbalize.