Comment by glenstein

I don't agree that this instance is among the kind that can "be perceived as respectful" - I think we can make space to acknowledge that that is a thing, and that nevertheless this is not an instance of respectfully direct communication. So that's a red herring.

Moreover I don't see that "being European" has anything to do with anything, and classifying someone as either being "capable of" or not "capable of" receiving direct feedback, far from respectful, is an instance of insulting with plausible deniability, which is perhaps the most practiced art form of internet comment sections.