Politeness and Social Customs in Your Society

by **The Dasquitines** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:45 am

by **New Vudnia** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 4:42 pm

Country Name: Vudnia

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: Chimerids

Location: an entire planet in a pocket universe of indeterminable location

Climate: all of them

Ethnic Makeup: Chimerids 99.9% Other .1%

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: As a global empire, we have only one language, but many dialects. In general, it is best to use the "mid Atlantic" dialect when trying to communicate formally or to a global audience. Attempts at imitating a local dialect is often considered insulting.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: Religions are banned, but there are small pockets of neo-exceptionalists in more rural areas. Most citizens embrace the philosophy of "Educationalism" which states that learning is the most important aspect of life.

Folklore and Superstition: Due to the above social philosophy, there are few superstitions in Vudnia. Our Folklore is a mixture of many different earth nationalities.

Social Hierarchies: Vudnians are well aware that through life, they will belong to various groups. The family, the classmates, the co-workers, the friends, and even society as a whole. As such, many social hierarchies exist based not only on relation, but also situation. In the classroom, a teacher is the Superior social entity, but if you were to meet the same teacher while out shopping, they would be your relative equal. Most social Hierarchies are formed around practicality. Obviously, the parents outrank the children in the family life, but wether the mother or father is the Socially superior entity varies from family to family.

Importance of said Hierarchies: The concept of "Honor" is taught to Vudnians at a very young age. You are obligated to bring honor not only to yourself, but to whatever social group you are currently in. In situations where the socially superior entity is undetermined, the social group has equal moral duty to ensure honor, but in more clearly defined cases, the Socially Superior entity is responsible for the bulk of group honor and group initiatives.

Using Titles and Honorifics: Typically only job titles are used, even in informal settings. ie: "Doctor Livingston, I'd like you to meet my friends, Engineer Conhager, Teacher Stevenson, and Salaryman Jones"

Important Festivals: There is at least one festival every month, but the four celestial festivals (Summer solstice, fall equinox, winter solstice, Spring equinox) are the most widely recognized.

The Family: Seen as the most important social group one can belong to.

Concepts of Shame and Honor: Internal harmony within a social group is seen as just as great as External honor. If say a study group is full of brilliant students who hate each other, they are considered just as bad as the loving, but drug-addicted family.

Face and Saving Face: The only way to save face is through sincere apology. This differs from regular apology by following up with acts that illustrate the sincerity. For instance, the child who was accused of bulling another student can only save face by apologizing and then leaving the former victim alone or attempting to make amends. Hypocrisy is considered the greatest possible shame, and known hypocrites are shunned as if they had an infectious disease.

Directness: The truth hurts sometimes, but as long as you are telling the truth, feelings are irrelevant.

Ways to express Yes and No: For yes, Nodding. For no, shaking the head side to side.

Politeness: By acting polite, one brings honor to all social groups to which they belong (Unless you are a member of a street gang who thinks Might is right).

Public vs Private Conduct: As mentioned above with the concepts of Internal Harmony and External Honor, one must live both faces as their true faces.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: 80% of all Vudnians live in cities. Our Wilderness is for the most part uncharted, as people are unwilling to leave the shore of a body of water, for fear they'll lose their way.

Importance of Appearance: Ideally, one must always look clean and well-groomed.

Concepts of Cleanliness: Bathing every other day is considered adequate.

Hospitality: typically, only well-known individuals are invited to ones home (unless you are a repairman of some sort) so even receiving an invitation is considered a great honor. Once you cross the threshold, you are considered a member of the family. No one is allowed in someone else's bedroom unless invited.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Not really a major concern to Vudnians.

Function of Pride and Humility: Humility is one of the best ways to earn and maintain honor.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: Laughter is extremely healthy, and humor can be used in many aspects of daily life... provided it doesn't offend anyone.

Polycentrism: Considering we are the only civilization on this planet, Polycentrism is the only option.

Regionalisms: Typically only extends to language and brand options.

Social Profiling Simply not done.

Individuals vs Collectives: Social groups are the basis of all society, so there is a lot of collectivism. Individuals are recognized within the social group.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Trust is the basis of honor

Meeting and Greeting: Tip your hat if you are wearing one. If not, a small bow will suffice.

Gift Giving: Gifts of food and alcohol are the standard for visiting someone for any reason. Typically, you don't give someone an inedible thing unless they specifically ask for it. You are also expected to bring a food platter to a party, unless the invitation states otherwise.

Degree of Gender Mixing: Widely allowed. Some public buildings don't even have separate bathrooms for the sexes.

Table Manners: There are a few guidelines:

-NEVER chew with your mouth open, make as little noise while eating as you possibly can. You can give a hearty burp after the meal if you wish.
-If you are able, eat your food as quickly as possible. This shows that the meal is only secondary to the company around you.
-If someone has asked you to speak and you're in the middle of chewing something, quickly cover your mouth, finish chewing, swallow, then reply to the person.
-Dip the food into the accompanying sauce, rather than adding the sauce to your portion.
-If given a mug with a hot beverage in it, test the temperature of it by holding the mug before you take a sip. If it's too hot to hold, it's too hot to drink.
-If you must leave the table, say "Excuse me" then promptly exit. Never give the reason for your departure. If you must leave the building before the meal is concluded, say instead "This was a delightful meal, but I'm afraid I am needed elsewhere" then leave. Again, do not elaborate on the reason for departure.

Concepts of Personal Space: Vudnians prefer a distance of at least two meters between strangers, and one and a half meters between acquaintances. Closer relations may get as close as they please.

Concepts of Time: Better to be early, than late.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: There should be at least Rapport, but don't get too cozy during working hours. If you'd like to see who your co-workers really are, go for drinks or dinner after work.

How Open Meetings Are: um... fairly open?

Communication Styles: Unless you're developing a marketing campaign, be as straightforward as you possibly can. Only ignoramuses use Buzzwords with coworkers.

Using Titles and Honorifics: There's no need to use honorifics if you are all of the same rank.

Business Cards: Only given upon request. No need to waste card stock if all you're going to do is toss this out.

What to Wear: modest apparel in subdued colors, unless there is a specific uniform required by the company. Skirts and dresses are preferred for women, but they are by no means mandatory.

Business Meetings: Arrive on time, and have your presentation ready.

Business Negotiations If the police have to be called, you're doing it wrong!

by **Nouvelle Valcluse** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 4:14 am

by **The Fedral Union** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:23 pm

Country Name:The United Terran Alliance

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: Terran(Human)

Location:Sagittarius Arm

Climate: varies from planet to planet.

Ethnic Makeup:60% Terran 10% AI, 30% Alien and anthropomorphic beings.

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: Business is usually conducted in English as basically all inhabitants of the UTA speak it. However Bilingualism is seen as a positive thing, especially within business, as it opens up more opportunities for the people are.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief:Mostly agnostic or atheist however there are religious minorities such Christianity and others.

Folklore and Superstition:There is no strong mythological background to draw on but there are some ancient superstitions that have survived. Some ignore the superstitions some are tightly bound by them. Superstitions include things like, the number 13 being bad luck, breaking mirrors, walking under ladders and so forth..

Social Hierarchies: There are no formal structures however there would be socio-economic bands which would define the extent of what someone can do. There are high mobility between these bands as people profit and bust.

Importance of said Hierarchies:Apart from purchasing power, very little.

Using Titles and Honorifics:Important when dealing with someone in a formal situation, where you don’t really know them or have greater authority.

Important Festivals: Christmas, Planet fall, independence day.

The Family: Family is quite flexible with official marriages and defacto couples benefitting from same protections under the law. It does not matter what creature are involved as long as they are not a close relative, sentient and not violently or otherwise abused. Extended families, same-sex marriages and other familial styles are not uncommon.

Concepts of Shame and Honor:There are no specific rituals or cultural status involving shame or honor. An individual might be publicly shamed by uncovering deeds but more embarrassment and diminishment of social perception rather than specific concepts.

Face and Saving Face: Public perception is just that, how the public perceives a person. Like Shame there are no specific cultural or community rituals or beliefs that involve this subject.

Directness: Usually fairly direct but with an understanding that tact is necessary and directness and candidness are certainly situationally dependent.

Ways to express Yes and No: A shake of the head or a nod of the head, wording ,or simply yes or no.

Politeness: Politeness is seen as important as well as tact.

Public vs Private Conduct: People are generally more restrained in public over private presenting themselves as professional. Most notable difference between public and private beliefs may be in Politics depending on differences between someones personal beliefs and their public political beliefs.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: Rural area are slightly more casual/relaxed but otherwise it is fairly consistent between rural and urban areas.

Importance of Appearance: To be taken seriously you have to present seriously. Exactly what form that presentation takes depends on circumstances and context. Around close friends Appearance isn’t much important but even then there are still some norms.

Concepts of Cleanliness: Seen as a part of presentation. A workplace, office and home are seen as an extensions of the person and the cleanliness is also important for the presentation of a person. In addition to the concept of hygiene and health related to poor cleanliness.

Hospitality: Hospitality is usually fairly spontaneous. Friends and associates are welcomed. It is usual to offer some form of refreshment both food and drink and for visitors to be engaged either through entertainments or discussion. However is a limit as visitors can out stay their welcome exact length depends on their relationship.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: This is a bit of a mix, somethings are heavily planned out. Including military hardware, business and government arrangement other things, usually things in a persons social life, are quite spontaneous.

Function of Pride and Humility: Usually Humble

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: Humour is seen as a core trait, “You aren’t alive if you can’t laugh at yourself”

Polycentrism:Openness and acceptance of cultures is a basic requirement of life. There are many different unique cultures that make up the UTA and so you are likely to encounter different cultures fairly regularly.

Regionalisms:Generally different cultures and such are relatively mixed but there are some planets which are dominated by a single culture, eg Dainus.

Social Profiling Judgments are primarily based on merit. Social profiling is counter to the idea of meritocracy. Anyone of any type may be the best person for a particular job.

Individuals vs Collectives: As with many meritocracies individuals are important in that each individual has opportunities to advance and improve their posision however goals are usually fairly collective based. Family, religious, organisation or broader society.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Very important. A friend is someone who you trust to talk about more personal things. People have to trust that their friends won’t betray them and will be there for them when needed. If they aren’t then there were never really friends.

Meeting and Greeting:
Dos: Smile shake hands or appropriate cultural gesture for greetings. Introduce and say hi.
Don’ts:speak over or fail to introduce or reciprocate greeting and generally don’t be a nuisance.

Gift Giving:
Dos:Wrapping is usually expected for holidays, though general gifts are not expected to be wrapped. General gifts usually small useful items.
Don’ts:Be condescending and patronizing when giving gifts.

Degree of Gender Mixing: For the most part Genders are fairly well mixed. Some jobs have a higher imbalance than others but it is because the job appeals to one gender over the other.

by **Legokiller** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:22 pm

Country Name: United Pony States

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group:Cherials

Location: Norsetalia, Northern Pony Lands

Climate:Temperate broadleaf forest, Temperate steppe, Taiga, alpine tundra, mountain forest

Ethnic Makeup:Pokkanians, Cherials, Poneyisks, Northernponies, Valymanes, Krystines, Beastlings, Elves, Human

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: Typical business language is spoken in Equestrian, although it’s a common practice of bilingualism in speaking in English.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: Pinkie Harmonism is the mainstream religion across the states with the majority of the population following it.

Folklore and Superstition: The United Pony States’s folklore plays an important role in Legokilleran culture such as entertainment, heroes, legends, and history of the nation. Out of those folklore tales notable are the ones telling about historical events that explains periods such as the Golden Herd Period. From the beginning as told of “Lady of Oamane”, a tragedy of a Herdite general attempts to free Lady Sea Pearl from her father, “Proconsul and the Penguin”, where a unpopular politician from Harmonious Golden Polis is sent out to govern the disloyal Legokilleran territory and change it for the better through enacting a cultural revolution with the help of a flightless bird. Another famous example during the Monarchy of Legokiller is “Diamond Love”, a story of a rebellious princess that travels the kingdom, performing in lewd yet charming ways against her foes until the finale where she attempts to gain immortality by using the frozen hourglass as queen, resulting in death and beginning a cycle of incarnation. Religious symbolism in folklore ranges from the faith of the old gods to the harmonist regal-sisters, either as support roles or playing a larger part in the tale.

Social Hierarchies: The lower class, the middle class, and the upper class

Importance of said Hierarchies: Beyond how much does a average pony earns in their income, it’s unimportant.

Using Titles and Honorifics: It comes into play when stating the citizen’s gender and occupation. Average adult Legokiller will be typically called "Mister" or "Miss", and some jobs give them a title. For example “Doc” for Doctor, “DJ” for Disc jockey, and others for higher up roles of leadership

Important Festivals: Coming of Winter, Hearth’s Warming, Nightmare Night, Festival of the Blooming Flowers, Summer Sun Celebration, Dragon Festival, and Penguin Day

The Family: Family amongst Legokilleran society are noticeably organized around either extended or Matrifocal types, or both. While it's common for large families to have several generations living in one household or nearby neighborhoods or towns, others have more distance from each other across the nation. Family reunions happen annually or every few years to rekindle relations with distance members, and usually have a celebration. In Legokilleran tradition, the mother is the head of the family, who holds the responsibility of managing household matters of child care, food, funds, shelter, clothing, and important decisions. In addition, matrilineality is common practice as husbands change their surnames to their spouse’s. A family member in Legokillrean society sees it as the primary unit in his or her life, since it’s the primary source that can always be counted upon for which help and guidance in hard times, right next to best friends. Legokillerans typically practice a form of polygamy or group marriage as either the existing couple adds another loved one or a group of people shares a common love interest amongst each other. It uncommon, but it is encouraged to carry out incestual marriage using polygamy to make their relationship acceptable to the family. Interspecies relationships can be part of a pony's polygamous family.

Concepts of Shame and Honor: Legokillerans typically follow a code of Chivalry and Honor based around their religious and sometimes personal beliefs. For the many, the elements of harmony are a code of conduct that prescribe acting as a good person and benefitting the community. Wisdom is seen to have an important role in society as it helps to avoid utter stupidity that could damn friendship or society in general. Breaking the ideals of the elements of harmony acts like an anchor for those act like a meanie before the horizon of despair for ponies that have done wrong dawns.

Face and Saving Face: “Face” means reputation, diligence, and respect in Legokilleran society. It’s gained by a person’s deeds amongst the community through religious acts, charity, being selfless, and other actions. Generally, being honest and admitting your mistakes to become a better person usually saves a person’s face.

Directness: Legokillerans tend to be direct to the point and attempt to not insult another, however, this all depends on each individual personality and how do they dealt with matters.

Ways to express Yes and No: A simple nod express yes and a head shake means no. Expressions on the face is another common way to show replies, and hoof gestures and odd bows too.

Politeness: Being polite is an essential interaction to build friendships and good standing for a person. A simple introduction that includes a smile, bow, or hoofshake is appropriate.

Public vs Private Conduct: Legokillerans generally feel more comfortable to express themselves through words, actions, and beliefs in private or in a group. In public a Legokilleran tends to be more mindful into their own business, and tries don’t to make themselves look stupid or embarrass themselves.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: Rural Legokillerans are often seen as hardworking and tough adventurous folks that tends to be more conservative. Contrast to popular belief, the rural folks are rarely xenophobic, most of them are quite friendly and accepting not unlike the urban ones.

Importance of Appearance: It’s important for a Legokilleran to appear pleasant towards the eyes of others, no matter how silly or tacky. Legokillerans tend to avoid any appearance of being stupid or being down right ugly to the community. Fashion typically ranges from nudity to charming body decorations that include makeup and clothing, some fashions appearing lecherous to the more conservative foreigners but highly appreciated by Legokillerans. It should be noted that adequate winter clothing is necessary to prevent any frostbite.

Concepts of Cleanliness: Legokillerans take daily baths to keep their bodies healthy, and its common to see friends and family members using the same bathtub together.

Hospitality: Hospitality plays an important event for a Legokilleran since it can be either planned or spontaneous. To turn down an invitation to one's home is shameful, and one should always arrive on time, while strangers should show respect towards the friendly Legokilleran. It's a pleasure to be a Legokilleran's guest as one is expected to offer a snack or a meal during a lunch period, and females may offers breast milk if needed besides coffee or peppermint tea. A guest will have some entertainment from the Legokilleran, and friendly conversation about daily business and random subjects.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Depends on the individual, however, Legokillerans typically prefer to plan events and schedules. Spontaneity may happen if the list of things to do is light, and a Legokilleran might take a detour to visit friends if they too have some free time.

Function of Pride and Humility: Most Legokillerans tend to take pride in their accomplishments, feeling pride about being able to contribute to the community and more than likely to boast about it amongst friends. However attempts to appear more accomplished than other speakers are generally viewed as rude as they can be shameful to others, and Legokillerans mostly shun this behavior. That said, some Legokillerans can be humble about minor or non-existant accomplishments as they only need a friend, the only thing that really matters.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: Humor is an important value of Legokilleran society as it is its purpose to bring out a smile and lighten up anyone’s mood.

Polycentrism: Legokillerans are quite open to other cultures and generally are capable to peacefully co-exist with others. Cultural values and context must be understood before making judgement.

Regionalisms: Legokilleran culture is arranged by the geography and the Northern Southern Dichotomy. The south has a warmer climate with a bigger population than the cold cultural north, thus affecting the lifestyles. However, each state possesses their own cultural identities.

Social Profiling Social Profiling on finding out someone’s class is inappropriate and largely discouraged.

Individuals vs Collectives:Equally important.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Paramount

Meeting and Greeting: Meeting a Legokilleran for the first time will typically have a warm smile of an introduction about themselves that may include a slight head bow, wave, hoof shake, or a hug. Legokillerans will then ensue on a talk before either inviting you to join or be a part of your activity, or simply get some contact information to meet again.
Dos:Return the bow, wave, or hoof shake; introduce yourself in a friendly matter.
Don’ts: Being rude, disrespectful, and don’t be touchy.

Gift Giving:Giving gifts is a friendly and a common way in society to show their friendship between others actually means. Typically a gift can be used to give out a first impression, a game between friends at a party and holiday, and to help others in need.
Dos: Any pet or better yet a penguin will cheer anyone’s day, candy, cash, pastries, toy, meal, and fruits. Gifts can be in any forms of warping and in a basket.
Don’ts: Don’t give a horseshoe, it symbolizes unlucky and inferiority, do not eat the penguin, it symbols a false friendship and untrustworthy, and don’t refuse the gift, it leads to frowns.

Degree of Gender Mixing: Legokilleran men and women usually don’t separate themselves.

Dining Etiquette:
Dos:Have a friendly discussion about any topic, accept an offer of milk, and during the holidays, wait for a toast before eating. Do a prank by the don’ts below if the meals are poor, follow by flesh awesome food available.
Don’ts:Don’t flip the table, smash your dish with food on another person’s face, food fight, and don’t steal from another’s dish.

Table Manners:
Dos: Finish eating part of your food before continuing talking, request for additional drink or meal.
Don’ts:Smack your food, play with it inappropriately

Concepts of Personal Space:Legokillerans don’t mind if another is hugging or close by to each other as long it doesn’t go sexual.

Concepts of Time: Generally a Legokilleran wants to meet the schedule times and be at a meeting just in time or earlier.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: It plays an important role for a Legokilleran to get to know and trust their fellow coworkers and employers. It helps the workplace to get the job done and sometimes you can earn a job promotion or get into a sweet deal, even get invited into a party with your work comrades!

How Open Meetings Are:Depends on the meeting itself, however Legokillerans prefer to have their meetings open.

Communication Styles:Depends on the individual and any style of communication are acceptable as long it goes to direct to the point, or build up to it.

Using Titles and Honorifics: A formal way to address a worker is by “Mr”, “Mrs”, or “Ser”, while a one in a high position needs to be called by CEO of name company.

Business Cards: Best way for a businesspony to look professional and important. Many of these cards are highly customized to represent a company’s appearance, to interest an investor to contact you, servers as a collect them all, and regularly exchange with each other. It’s polite if you accept the cards, and play a game on crushing a crappy one before exchanging a fancy one.

What to Wear:Anyways dress in a nice looking suit or a traditional clothing. These can be customized into any desire for a person from flamboyancy colors with a nice top hat to simple black tuxedo.

Business Meetings: Appointments are planned in advance from monthly to any period of the year or annually, however this can be sporadic in some companies. A Legokilleran must arrive on time for the meeting, and if unable, telephone or webcam is a good option to be in the meeting. A meeting can be upbeat and friendly, while at the same time be direct, silly yet critical. The length of a meeting can belong from the introductions of each member and the presentation, to being short if all goes smooth and well.

Time of Day:Varies wildly

Business Negotiations
Dos: Be polite, professional, look sharp, and good humor.
Don’ts:Go crazy and smash computers, don’t have too much fun, and don’t break a (pinkie) promise!

by **Vazdania** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:26 pm

tagged.

by **The Alexandrea Lands** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:24 pm

"Politeness?" The word has never been used.

by **Yasuragi** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 2:05 am

Country Name: The Greater Empire of Yasuragi

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: Yasuri

Location: Firipin Archipelago, Mystria.

Climate: Tropical rainforest; Swampland/Marsh; Mountainous/foothills; Forest.

Ethnic Makeup: Yasuri - 98.5% (56.3% Yasuri, 43.7% Asai); Foreigners (1.5%).

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: All official documents are in Casio. The vast majority of the population speaks Common, however, and those who do business frequently know more than just Casio and Common. Additionally, some speak Asai, although this is a dying language most commonly used in the slums. The more languages one speaks, the more educated they are, so many learn additional languages throughout their lives to showcase their intelligence, education, and status. However, in business dealings, the negotiators will often speak only Casio, requiring a translator (even if they speak the language of the foreigner).

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: Cejajin - the largest, and officially only, religion in the Firipin Archipelago and the Greater Empire as a whole. It complements the culture of the Yasuri, and mixes the beliefs of the Yasuri and the Asai in a polytheistic pantheon of gods and goddesses. There is a small but intensely persecuted group of Andedyrkarens, who have tenaciously hung on to their beliefs since the Wars of Religion three centuries ago.

Folklore and Superstition: Folklore and superstition are not "folklore and superstition" to the Yasuri, but a way of life. See, the Greater Empire is heavily a FanT nation, which means that things like this or this exist in Yasuragi. Knowing how to deal with these, or avoid becoming their meal or next victim, is a mandatory lesson in early Niyasuragu schooling.

Social Hierarchies: Oh-ho ho, hierarchies. There are two, one social and one economic. The social hierarchy is positively feudal, with the Imperial family at the head, followed by the princes (Arch-Governors), the dukes (provincial governors), and counts (mayors) in various elective positions. There are also noble families that have their own hierarchical system, but it's based on a complicated system of family history, marriages, which side they backed in wars, and how many times the Emperor/Empress has met them -- it really is only used to determine marriage prospects and their seating arrangement in the Chamber of the Shonin. The Yasuri are dis-proportionally represented in the social hierarchy. Economically, there's the usual structure of rich people and poor people, with a hefty class divide, but the ethnic distribution is very equal to the distribution in Yasuragi as a whole.

Importance of said Hierarchies: Extraordinarily important, but the Yasuri will deny it completely if you say so, with a polite laugh and a dismissive comment. Even though they claim outright that status is unimportant, and that the highest prince is equivalent to the lowest beggar, you can bet that when they look at you, they're trying to calculate how exactly to respond to everything you say with something appropriate to your respective ranks.

Using Titles and Honorifics: Very important. Again, the Yasuri will claim that titles and honorifics mean nothing, and will insist that you call them by their proper name, but if you do, they'll be very off-put and upset. They will insist on calling you by your titles, no matter how long-winded, and the closest you will ever get, even after years of friendship, is "Mr./Mrs. <name>," and that's only in private.

Important Festivals: WIP

The Family: Family is crucial to the Yasuri, forming the nucleus of their support system and providing them a way to advance later on in life. Those who do not do their utmost to support their family -- parents living with their children to help raise their grandchildren; children using their last cents to pay for a parent's medical bills, etc -- are greeted with polite discomfort and disgust. One of the promises of marriage is to support the family, and through their spouse, support their (in-law) family. In-laws are expected to be on the same level as one's biological family. Divorces are not recognized by the religion or the government, and are instead replaced by separation and socially-acceptable "affairs". Children created by these affairs are either given to the couple in the event of reconciliation, or taken away by the government to be placed with a different couple. Adoption records are permanently sealed, and every effort is made to place a child with parents close to them (in appearance, genetic structure, blood type, etc).

Concepts of Shame and Honor: Huge in Niyasuragu culture, but extraordinarily private. Honor is recognized by all, but is publicly downplayed by those who accrue it, while shame is the opposite -- publicly ignored by all, but extremely recognized/aware by the person who is ashamed/shamed. Public shaming almost never occurs in the Niyasuragu culture, and publicly calling out or shaming an individual is cause for kakushitsu, or a feud between shamed/shamer, and in the past has led to assassinations.

Face and Saving Face: Yasuri will do anything to save face, as a tie-in to their concept of shame and honor. Those who lose face have also accrued shame or lost honor. Face is a nebulous concept in Yasuragi, but is roughly equivalent to "reputation" or "status" socially. Moments that would cause foreigners a flash of embarrassment or discomfort are generally what the Yasuri would consider a loss of face. Again, public loss of face is ignored, but all are well aware that it occurred, and will not forget it soon. Those who actively attempt to embarrass or humiliate others are considered worse than scum in Niyasuragu society.

Directness: Directness is nonexistent in Niyasuragu culture and society. The entire social hierarchy and all its interactions rest upon a complex system of face, honor, actions, politeness, tact, and a massive array of polite gestures and veiled meanings. Oddly enough, the Yasuri, who pride themselves on never lying, will quickly lie to avoid letting their conversational partner down, especially in public -- this is usually done by lies of omission, using a future (but not-conflicting) event as an excuse for not attending. Directness is often tied to loss of face or accrued shame/dishonor, and thus has a negative connotation. While not taboo, it is distasteful, and thus why many Yasuri find foreigners offputting -- their insistence on direct 'yes or no' answers in many cases.

Ways to express Yes and No: Verbally, as head and hand gestures can be used in either case, depending on the tone and nature of the conversation. Hedging, baiting, and rapid conversation seguing/switching are all hallmarks of "no," and foreigners unused to this may often find themselves discussing something completely different, not even knowing whether their conversational partner has said yes or no. Even when expressing yes as enthusiastically as possible - say in a marriage proposition - there must be a socially acceptable level of reserve and tact. Yasuri almost never begin sentences with yes/no.

Politeness: As a 18th century Imeratian said -- "The Yasuri are the politest bunch of bastards you'll ever meet" -- and the saying holds true to this day. Politeness and tact are the benchmarks by which all other things are measured; the politer you are, the further you go, generally speaking, which means that the Yasuri are an extremely polite, deferential, and apologetic folk, who have mastered the art of insulting-while-complimenting, and saying-yes-while-meaning-no.

Public vs Private Conduct: Private is just a smaller public; it's simply a question of how small. The conducts are almost identical, unless it comes to the family structure -- and even then, that is very similar to public conduct. Affection may be shown when it is in the depths of the family home, with only the family and young children present. As the children grow older, affection is more formal and rigid, by socially acceptable standards. However, a certain loss of tact and politeness is acceptable in familial settings, as the family is expected to support you through all situations, never spilling secrets or giving false/erratic advice.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: Rural folk are more liberal with the rigid customs and rigors of society, as they view work as a necessity more than politeness or appearances (getting things done), while urban and suburban people live every moment by the social structure of the Empire.

Importance of Appearance: Appearances are extremely important, although not ostentatious. Modesty is preferred, and people go to extraordinary efforts to be as modest (but not poor/meager) as possible. The only exceptions are the Imperial Family, who are socially allowed to have frivolous clothing luxuries, given that they are literally the descendants of the gods. Clean, well-put-together, but not casual or ostentatious. Clothing at a party would be khaki pants and a polo shirt, while dress parties would require modest kimonos or sarangs.

Concepts of Cleanliness: Similar to appearance, cleanliness is extraordinarily important, tied as it is to purity and health. Temple-maintained bathhouses are common in Yasuragu, and are often public and free, to allow for even the lowliest beggar to remain clean and 'pure' in the eyes of society and the gods. Beyond a collective germophobia, the desire to be clean is ingrained in every Yasuri from birth, and those companies who require physical or dirty labor will often have a bathhouse on the premises, to allow their employees to clean themselves after work.

Hospitality: Hospitality is carefully planned, and very crucial to social and business relationships. Every event requires a degree of hospitality and welcoming by the host or the people who have arrived before everyone else. Personal hospitality is a different matter; an invitation to a Yasuri's house is a matter of course, but must not be turned down, no matter what. Declining an invitation to an individual's house, regardless of other commitments, is viewed as a grave insult to that person, and will rapidly result in a collective community lash-back against the decliner. Not even rejecting the offer in the usual Niyasuragu way is acceptable. However, once you enter the house, you are under the protection of the host (and their family), and offered everything inside. Be very careful -- if you express an interest in an object, the host may often offer it to you, or bring it as a gift when you invite them to your house (a reciprocated invitation is expected). Tea and assorted foodstuffs are generally publicly offered, and the invitation is often extended to more than one individual at a time, to ensure a lively conversation.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Spontaneity is frowned upon by Yasuri, as it shows a lack of commitment to the guests invited to the event, and Niyasuragu events are expected to run with a clockwork efficiency that would make Prussian quartermasters quiver with excitement and envy. If an event goes poorly, the organizer loses a great deal of face and brings shame to themselves -- recovering from a bad party or event is not simply a matter of throwing a "better" one, but takes time to recover from the effects of the disaster. The larger the event, and the more managed and precise the host runs it, the more honor they bring upon themselves. While organizers and planners are accepted, the host is expected to play the larger role in the event.

Function of Pride and Humility: Pride is verboten; taboo. Humility is all. The person who can be the most humble is king/queen -- even the Imperial Family abides by this social norm. While in other cultures, the King or Queen might often host lavish celebrations for their accomplishments (especially martial ones), these are strictly frowned upon in Niyasuragu society.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: Humor is key in Niyasuragu functions, as it allows for a polite ice-breaker, but the subject and nature of the humor must be carefully selected -- jokes at one's own expense are met with polite discomfort, while jokes at another individual's expense are taboo. Similarly, political and social jokes are not acceptable, leaving the Yasuri with precious little to joke about. It's often said that the entire country only knows three jokes, and while this is an obvious hyperbole, it's true that the topic of these jokes tend to be remarkably similar. In private, or in their own ingroups, the Yasuri often break this taboo as they know the individuals therein quite well.

Polycentrism: The Yasuri are always interested in learning about other cultures, but will almost never consider adopting or incorporating the customs or policies of other cultures in their own day-to-day life. Comparisons between Niyasuragu culture and other societies is often unfavorable to the outside world (in the eyes of the Yasuri), and only serves to create an internalized and unintentional xenophobia.

Regionalisms: Niyasuragu culture and society circles around two major "hubs" -- political and religious are centered around Kumatsu, the national capital and Holy City of Cejajin; cultural and economic are centered around Migawa, the largest and most prosperous city in Yasuragi.

Social Profiling: If you do it openly, you're a terrible person, but everyone does it personally and in the privacy of their own heads. When a Yasuri meets a new person, they instantly size them up and attempt to discern all that they can, in an attempt to place them in a mental hierarchy -- whether the new individual is above or below them in rank, and what actions are thus appropriate.

Individuals vs Collectives: The Empire is a homogeneous and collective society, placing a huge emphasis on social cohesiveness. "For the Greater Good," however horrifying that may be to other societies, is practically the motto of the Yasuri and their government. Individualism is to be discouraged, which leads to an odd phenomena in Niyasuragu politics -- extreme herd mentality. Niyasuragu political parties may often enjoy political support upwards of 70 or 80 percent in one week, only to have that drop to lower than 30 percent in one month; once around 40-50% of the population begins to disagree with the political party in question, more and more individuals switch sides in order to maintain harmony in the face of growing dissent, leading to collapses in coalitions. However, the public is notoriously fickle, and parties may find themselves in and out of favor over the course of a year or two.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Trust is not valued or needed in any relationship except for familial and personal ones. It is expected that one will attempt to weasel out of, beg, barter, steal, break, backstab, etc, etc, in any other relationship, most obviously political and economic ones. If you don't, the Yasuri will laugh at you for being an idealistic child, and promptly backstab you. They are masters at loopholes, spotting gaps in legal or logical reasoning, and lying by omission.

Meeting and Greeting: The Yasuri have a complicated system of meeting and greeting, based on how they think the new individual ranks compared to themselves. If they are higher in rank, or supposed rank, they will slightly incline their head. If they are lower in rank, they will bow - the depth of the bow is indicative of how large the difference in rank is, while if they are similar in rank, they will attempt to clasp your hands in both of theirs and bow at a 80-60 degree angle based on age. Mistakes are common and accepted, but once a rank has been established, either through business cards, conversation, or etc, the proper greeting must be given, or it will be an insult to the other individual/loss of face for yourself. Voluntarily bowing to one lower in rank is also acceptable when giving sympathy or apologies. If you attempt to give a handshake, they will respond by bowing with their hands firmly to their side.
Dos: Give the correct greeting after the first meeting; when in doubt, bow deeply.
Don’ts: Hold onto their hand for more than three-four seconds; don't crush their hands; don't do handshakes.

Gift Giving: Gifts are common and omnipresent in Niyasuragu society, from dinner parties to tea ceremonies to business dealings and formal meetings. It is expected that wherever you show up, you bring a gift, as a sign of respect to the host or other guests. No matter how cheap and common the gift will be -- it is truly the thought that counts to the Yasuri -- it will be praised by the host and other guests like the next Mona Lisa or Michelangelo statue. The host will frequently have a table or low shelf out by the front door filled to the brim with the gifts that they have received, and if you are there on a second or third visit, you will notice your old gifts are given prominent places. Spending a lot of money on a gift is considered wasteful or bragging about individual wealth -- while personal presents and gifts are considered a sign of deep friendship and trust.
Dos: Bring a gift; bring a book -- most common form of gift, after souvenirs from foreign places.
Don’ts: Don't wrap the gift; don't spend too much; don't give something personal. Don't bring weapons, as that is considered a threat.

Degree of Gender Mixing: Historically segregated; modern times call for modern sensibilities, however, and women and men mix quite freely.

Dining Etiquette: The host will seat themselves after all the guests have arrived; do not arrive late for a meal, for you will have made your host stand awkwardly for an extended period of time. Similarly, no real food will be provided until after all guests have arrived -- light appetizers will be provided beforehand. Light conversation is expected throughout the meal, but no talk of politics or business is expected -- it's considered upsetting to the digestive system, and ruins the flavor and enjoyment of the meal. After the meal, express many compliments quite loudly, for which the cook/host will politely wave off the praise, before steering the conversation to something else, which will last for at least half an hour or an hour. Do not leave anything on your plate -- it will be considered an insult to the cook. You will be offered additional food twice; declining both times means you are full.
Dos: Eat everything; compliment cook profusely - if at a restaurant, compliment host for excellent choice.
Don’ts: Leave something on your plate; spill food; reject or decline food.

Table Manners: Throughout a Niyasuragu meal, food will be served and removed in a rotating cycle -- to have more than one dish of the same thing is considered a sign of a dull cook or restaurant, relayed from guest to guest. If the dish runs out halfway through, it will quickly be replenished by the host or a waiter. Wine or other spirits are not served during a meal, but will be provided after, to soothe the digestion and allow for increased conversation. Tea is poured by the host or, in the event of a restaurant, the most senior individual. Guests are expected to profusely thank each other and the host throughout the meal, toasting frequently. It is polite to wait for the host to offer the first toast, but if no toast has been offered in the first five minutes after everyone has been served tea, anyone may make a toast, generally to the host first, then to the Emperor/Empress, and then to the gods.
Dos: Drink directly from the bowl of soup, rather than using a spoon. Compliment food, try everything, drink tea profusely.
Don’ts: Lick forks or other utensils; point utensils at other individuals; feed people pieces of food; share utensils or drinks.

Concepts of Personal Space: None. What is theirs is yours, what is yours is theirs. Think crowded New York Subway, but on a habitual basis. If you find this absolutely abhorrent, simply shift yourself away repeatedly -- it will take time, but they will pick up on your behavior and modify their own to respond. Do not directly address them or scold them for violating your personal space -- it is considered an insult that they did not pick up on it sooner (regardless of whether they've known you for an hour or three years).

Concepts of Time: Time is important to the Yasuri, although not as important as family, tact/politeness, or money. Business deals should be closed as quickly as possible, to increase turnover rates, on terms that are most favorable to the Yasuri. Meals and events should proceed as planned, beginning and ending as expected. Many Yasuri have a predetermined schedule each day and week; changes to this schedule are considered chaotic and unnecessary, to be done only when possible. If a Yasuri offers to "squeeze you in," do not reject their offer -- it means they are willing to alter and change their own schedule to meet with you, a very high compliment.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: Business is business; family is family. The two are distinct. In the event of members of the same family or friend group finding themselves on opposite sides of the table, one or the other will excuse themselves in subsequent meetings, or be sure not to contradict the other openly throughout the meeting. The Yasuri are perfectly happy to do business with people they do not know, or know only in passing, but will become much more reluctant to deal with friends and family -- normal Niyasuragu business dealings are filled with backstabbing and underhanded unscrupulous shenanigan-ry, which directly goes against Niyasuragu beliefs and customs regarding family and friends.

How Open Meetings Are: Not open at all. Underhanded conduct and unscrupulous behavior is expected during Niyasuragu business dealings, and the manner of Niyasuragu tact and politeness only serves to provide a smokescreen for their insults and or jostling. Backroom deals and backstabbing are expected, as are legal loopholes and other methods. For the Yasuri, money matters, but more than money, face is necessary. Managing to pull off a gutsy move, or winning a high-stakes bluff, is applauded even by those who lost. No hard feelings are expected, as it is only business, and shame only comes those who consistently lose or fail in dealings without improving or adjusting.

Communication Styles: Higher level Yasuri businessmen and women will never speak openly in the first round of discussions, beyond a few perfunctory greetings to their counterparts. Idle small-talk is not encouraged, and is frowned upon as a sign that the person involved is not entering business with the appropriate concern and serious attitude it requires. For the first few rounds, the Yasuri will use lower-level businessmen or interns to jump around from topic to topic, rarely getting in-depth on any one issue.

Similarly to Spireans, the manner in which a subject is addressed is of equal importance to the subject itself. Loss of face is verboten, and avoided at all costs (even by the one who would be causing the loss of face), and conflict is not encouraged by any means. However, the entire Niyasuragu side of the business table will have the same view (or profess to have the same view), so when one person speaks, you may assume that they are speaking for the entire Niyasuragu delegation. Nodding is similarly a sign of 'I have heard you' rather than 'I agree with you,' and one should always be on the lookout for lack of motion as a sign of severe disapproval or anger. Silence is not necessarily disapproval, but is often taken as a way to exert psychological pressure on the other individual(s), or used to indicate someone's rank. The less they speak, the higher in rank they usually are.

Crossing one's arms, or resting elbows on the table while leaning forward, is a sign of extreme discomfort or annoyance; similarly, the individual may switch to more 'clipped' responses, delivered with minimal tone or inflection, to signal that the other person should stop that line of questioning or drop the issue entirely.

Emotions and beliefs have no place in business; business is very much impersonal to the Yasuri, and should not be taken personally or offensively by the other person. The Yasuri do not mind losing or winning in a negotiation, but enjoy both the economic benefit from winning, and the thrill of the negotiation and wordplay, the back-and-forth of bluffing and counterbluff. It is perfectly possible to be humiliated by a Yasuri negotiator, only to be invited to their house for tea immediately afterwards, or to best one and similarly be granted an invitation. The Yasuri will also make no bones about their losses, and will openly admit when they have lost after the negotiations are done and finalized, often with a self-deprecating air, and a desire to improve for "the next time".

Using Titles and Honorifics: Just as in the society overall, honorifics and titles are a must. The other individual will make one or two requests that you use their first name or a more familiar form of address -- doing so is considered rude and contemptuous.

Business Cards: Do not exchange them directly, or make a note of it. Simply leave it discreetly at the table, or pass it immediately after greeting, with no fuss. It is expected that the guest provide their business card first, followed by the host giving their own when the guest is preparing to leave. Not providing a business card is a sign that you do not want to do business, and offering the excuse "I've run out" or "I lost them" is considered a impolite way of refusing business, as is it draws attention to the fact that you have not given them a business card. If you have truly lost them or run out, print one and mail/deliver it in person as soon as possible as an apology. Minimalist business cards are best received, and do not be surprised when the Yasuri you met three decades ago whips out the business card that you gave them on that day, so highly are they valued.

What to Wear: Traditional Niyasuragu kimonos or sarangs are expected. If you are a foreigner, normal business attire or traditional attire of your nation is allowable. Do not wear Niyasuragu clothing if you are not a resident or native Yasuri -- you will become the butt of personal jokes later on, especially if you have made a mistake (such as purchasing a woman's kimono rather than a man's or vice versa).

Business Meetings: Communication is key; convey who will be attending to the Yasuri, while also providing a list of their various titles and positions as necessary -- the Yasuri will respond with an equivalent number of people in the appropriate ranks. During meetings, the mid-level individuals will often speak and discuss issues, providing everyone with a background and raising the key points to be discussed in the meeting. This is their chance to impress their bosses by tactfully scoring points and blindsiding the opponent, so don't be taken aback if you encounter an especially blunt or zealous Yasuri during these negotiations. After the initial round of negotiations, the higher-level individuals will meet to discuss the key points, meetings attended solely by themselves and their aides. Once the first two or three issues have been hashed out, a general meeting will begin again, with a discussion of the proposed terms. The head Yasuri will often use a lower-level businessman to raise a concern they were too polite to raise in the private meetings earlier, and the negotiations will begin anew after the second general meeting. Once a few rounds of these have passed, a deal will be hashed out, and sent to the upper levels for final approval or veto.

Time of Day: Whenever convenient, which happens to be generally afternoon. Like with personal events, a change in the outline or timing can throw an entire meeting into chaos, resulting in a disorganized end result, confusion, and much loss of face for the host of the meeting. In the event that a change is absolutely necessary, it will usually be scheduled for the next day at the same time and place (if priority) or the next week at the same time and place (if low-priority). Later that day is unthinkable.

Business Negotiations Depending on the authority of the individuals in the meeting, decisions can be made quickly or slowly, as fits the needs of the company. Yasuri are quite skilled at using the bureaucracy of the government and company to work for them, cutting or increasing the amount of red tape as they see fit. Bluffs and gambles are beloved by the Yasuri, and are frequently used in negotiations -- but be careful. The Yasuri will enter the meeting with many goals in mind, and will usually only make one or two of them open to you, while working back channels or subtly to get you to agree to it. Some Yasuri bluff with nothing in their hands, relying on confidence and charisma to make their case, while others bluff without bluffing at all. Similarly, the Yasuri often suspend or pause negotiations at crucial moments, often walking out of meetings suddenly, as a way to increase the pressure on the other side. It is not uncommon for the Yasuri to openly pursue several negotiations at the same time, suddenly dropping or focusing on one or the other as necessary. For them, it is both a hobby and a profession; fun and yet completely serious.
Dos: Expect anything. Play the game.
Don’ts: Don't trust them.

by **Jankau-Helmutsberg** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:35 am

Country Name: The Free City of Jankau-Helmutsberg

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group:
Slavic 50% (95% of it Polish)

Location:
Borderline Region of Poland

Climate:
Subterranean

Ethnic Makeup:
Polish 48% German 46% Jewish 3% Other 3%

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism:
The Free City is entirely bilingual. Younger people also speak English well.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief:
Roman Catholic 59% Protestant 24% Atheist/Agnostic 10% Jewish 4% Other 3%

Folklore and Superstition:
A grand mixture of Polish, German and Subterranean folkrore, but superstitions are seen as naive and stupid.

Social Hierarchies:
The society is visibly divided between the city-dwellers and suburbans.

Importance of said Hierarchies:
Pretty much none, people are often ambitious and elementary and middle education is mixed-class and state-funded.

Using Titles and Honorifics:
Standard titles of Frau und Herr or Pan i Pani when relating to sex, no honorific titles are ever granted.

Important Festivals:
PunkNight (Punknoc, Punknacht), the International Mosh&Pogo Championships, The Janky Jazz Festival

The Family:
Usually 2-3 children, raised bilingually. Singles and even young couples live with their parents until they can afford themselves their own apartment without getting into debt.

Concepts of Shame and Honor:
Often valued in the conservative families, a tad less valued, but still important in the more bohemian ones.

Face and Saving Face:
People aren't really unforviging or vindictive, unless you do something really, really bad for them.

Directness:
City-dwellers: Vast.
Suburbans: Frowned upon.

Ways to express Yes and No:
City-dwellers: Be direct, sugarcoating is a waste of time and emotions.
Suburbans: Use as many words as if it would change anything, just don't offend the person you're talking to.

Politeness:
Generally, being an ignorant asshat is not tolerated. You don't really have to say "hello" to every person you meet, but at least you should spare your seat on the train for the women, elderly, or sick.

Public vs Private Conduct:
Public conduct is a different from the private, but it's doesn't really take long before you go from "sirring" or "madaming" to direct adressing, contrary to the continental Polish and German cultures.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy:
The division between suburbs and the downtown is very visible. The two largest political parties of the Free City are the City-Dwellers' and Viva La Suburbia, varying in interests, especially when it comes to automobiles, urban planning, the legality of outdoor advertising, mass transit, etc. In many situations the people of the suburbs and the city secretly dislike each other, of course, that's not the rule of the thumb. City-dwellers are usually seen as spontanic, bohemian, fit, modest, open-minded and healthy-looking. They are often members of subcultures. The suburbans are perceived as traditionalists, devout Christians, Russian-style noveau riche, arrogants, hard-working and family-focused.

Importance of Appearance:
Depends

Concepts of Cleanliness:
Quite important when you're the majority using the mass transit.

Hospitality:
Maybe not South-Italian-class, but about Polish-class. Expect 8413432 lunch invitations a week. Don't even visit people after eating something, because you will be served a cooked meal.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity:
When it comes to social outings, spontaneity is often viewed as a trait of the romantic and forever young people. Rigid planners are usually from the suburbs and/or are old people.

Function of Pride and Humility:
Talking about your success isn't seen as bragging in most cases, and you might expect congratulations. It doesn't wear the size of USA, but being proud of yourself isn't seen as bad. The easiest way to get humilitated is to act badly on the mass transit.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor:
Anything really! Your Jewish boss will laugh his stomach out at the Jewish world control joke you just told him, a Pole won't mind a joke about the Polish car thieves, and sarcasm is viewed as a normal way of perceiving life. The Jankan-Helmutsberger healthcare workers are famous for their black humor, which isn't seen as something rude here.

Polycentrism:
Jankans-Helmutsberger city-dwellers love learning about new cultures and are often open-minded about adopting them into their lifestyle, suburbans are usually way more xenophobic.

Regionalisms:
We absolutely love local dialects and regionalisms, expect people to sound and talk a bit differently every borough you pass.

Social Profiling
It's seen as rude, and discouraged from the young years. Elementary and middle education is state-prepared, state-funded, and mixed-class to let the children live in an realistic, open society.

Individuals vs Collectives:
It's rude to opinion on an individual's decisionmaking without her/his presence. Everybody has the right to choose.
Collectives are quite different when it comes to that.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships:
The introverted way. It's extremely important in friendships, but not really in business relationships and between mere acquaintances.

Meeting and Greeting:
Dos: Handshakes are standard. Polish/German formal and informal greetings apply.
Don’ts: Bow. Seriously. Is your friend Jesus Christ to do that?

Gift Giving:
Dos: Anything that you are 100% sure about
Don’ts: Anything you are not sure about, especially food preferences and sizes of clothes. It's not rude to ask about that.

Degree of Gender Mixing:
Not really, but gender roles are quite fluid here. If a woman is more hardworking and organized than the male, it's not a problem for the society if the man does the housemaking and the woman goes to work.

Dining Etiquette:
Standard continental school applies.

Table Manners:
Same as above.

Concepts of Personal Space:
Half of your arm should be the conversation distance here. Touching, if not romantic, doesn't go above the neck, and under the hips.

Concepts of Time:
It's OK to be late up to half an hour, but after that, expect a question asking why were you late.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships:
Important.

How Open Meetings Are:
Quite open compared to other countries.

Communication Styles:
Casual.

Using Titles and Honorifics:
No. Your coworkers and your boss are your friends, you adress them directly.

Business Cards:
Non-existent.

What to Wear:
Wear your usual clothes if it's not specified.

Business Meetings:
Usually you get a phone call in middle of the day telling you to load your ass in the pants, catch the train, and the meeting starts in 3 hours. You're getting kebab for everyone if you're late.

Time of Day:
The standard business hours are from 15:00 to 23:00 in the summer and from 10:00 to 18:00 in colder months, when there's no siesta.

Business Negotiations
Dos: Be yourself
Don’ts: Be too formal. It's just your job.

by **Tolmakia** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 6:09 am

Country Name: The Republic of Tolmakia

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: British

Location: Island of Britain

Climate: Temperate

Ethnic Makeup: 76% are of British, Irish, Welsh or Scottish descent, with 14% being of other European descent and 9% being Indian and Asian. The rest are from other heritage such as Africa or South American.

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: Business is conducted in English and rarely in Tolmakian. All official documents and papers (including business cards and resumes) are also in English. Only some very important documents are written in Tolmakian language. Bilingualism is considered to be a useful skill and it is an appreciated one although a fixed common language is usually preferred so there is minimal confusion and a smoother process in conversations.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: The prevalent religion is Christianity. But the national religion is Protestantism. Religious people must respect each other's beliefs (this also counts for atheists).

Folklore and Superstition: Superstition in Tolmakia is almost nonexistent. Traditional ones though such as "knocking on wood" still exist but are rarely used. Because of its merging with the British, most of its folklore has been wiped away.

Social Hierarchies: In the republic, sometimes referring to people as lower or higher class is discouraged. However the terms "middle class" and "higher class" are often used in resumes, biographies or records. "Lower class" is rarely used, sometimes used as a verbal insult. Politicians and city folk are usually high class while middle class are provincial citizens or even people form smaller cities.

Importance of said Hierarchies: Not important. Higher class people may become middle class people and vice versa. Some middle class people even hold more power than some higher class people. The terms are only used to describe the wealth and heritage of one person but not his/her power, status or influence.

Using Titles and Honorifics: Unique titles and honorifics are only reserved for politicians and royalty (from foreign nations). Members of the political cabinet have the title of "Minister" while high ranking commanders are titled "Commander". For ordinary citizens, people may use the titles "Mister" or "Miss/Missis" (yes, these are considered titles). These titles are used in polite and friendly ways, even for affection.

Important Festivals: There are not much important festivals. But if public holidays are counted, the month of November is an important holiday month. In november, many national holidays are celebrated such as friendship day, independence day and the civil war anniversary. These are some of the cultures of modern Tolmakia.

The Family: In the family, there is no fixed position of authority. However the usual family structure is lead by the father followed by the mother, then the eldest sibling (for more than one child). For single parents, the oldest sibling acts like a parent (or at least when they are responsible enough). The father usually makes the decisions and rules of the household although the mother may also do this. The mother also does household chores and helping the father decide on matters. In other households, the mother works while the father does household chores and assists the children.

Concepts of Shame and Honor: In Tolmakia, the concepts of shame and honor exists, mainly in the military and government. In the government, politicians are automatically honored for serving the nation. The greatest shame is being caught in a scandal, treason or corruption. Before the abolition of the death sentence, disgraced politicians were ejected at once and most were executed. However officials now stand trial before being punished. Punishments usually range from life sentence to a small fine.

In the military, it is an honor to serve and protect the nation abroad and within. It is an even greater honor the longer you serve and the more lives you save and protect. The greatest shame is being a coward and during the civil war, cowards were shot without question. Nowadays treason, scandalization, cowardice and rudeness are considered the greatest shame in the Tolmakian army. In society, being rude, egotistic or harassing is shameful. Citizens are honored for everything they do for the nation.

Also note that when one is shamed, it means usually that people are disappointed by them not literally bashed, scolded or booed on by a crowd (although these may happen in shaming a person).

Face and Saving Face: "Face" (or rather reputation) is vital in politics, economics and the military. If you have not much "face", you are likely to be looked down. But because most Tolmakians uphold a principle of being polite, you are given usually second chances. Your class won't matter in reputation (such as being the richest person in town or the son of the deputy prime minister). Those who do favor these things are likely to be looked down and shamed.

In saving face, people may redeem themselves. Thy could apologize sincerely or give the person they shamed or disappointed a gift or present (usually in non-physical forms such as a party or such). The disappointed may also forgive the person who "lost face" unconditionally if he/she chooses to.

Directness: In being direct, it depends. If the matter is critical, being direct would be a good choice. However in being direct people must try telling the truth politely as they can (unless it really is the brutal truth). If the truth is not pleasant they may say other notes or stick phrases such as "its not personal" or "its the brutal truth". Honesty is a favorable policy.

Ways to express Yes and No: In expressing yes, one must mean it. If one has an intent to say no, they usually say "maybe" or "depends". When "yes" is said, it must be said with full willingness when possible. The same may also go for "no". However "no" must not be said in a mocking tone since it may be considered an insult or a sign that you are not feeling well. Answers may also be expressed by body language.

Politeness: Politeness is another favorable policy. In almost every matter, citizens must be polite. However one must not be overly polite and sugar coat their words and statement. Sugar coating and lying are discouraged while readily agreeing (as in everyday and every suggestion) would either mean rudeness or mental illness. Those who are forced to be polite are free to express their matters. The nation does uphold a free speech policy but encourages politeness very much.

Public vs Private Conduct: Private conduct is generally favorable because people feel more comfortable to discuss any undesirable matters that have to be talked about. In public, people usually talk when announcing something. For undesirable matters, each involved person must agree on announcing it. For crimes however, it depends on whether it will be discussed privately or in front of the public (like through media).

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: Both peoples are seen as hardworking. Rural folk work hard in bringing physical products to the city and in keeping the foundation of the nation upright. Urban citizens work hard in matters such as business, social media, politics and other matters.

Importance of Appearance: Appearance is important to a degree. When in a city, it would be more agreeable to wear more suiting clothes (but people may wear any color, shorts or tank top as long as it is pleasant or agreeable with others). The same goes for rural areas. In events, one must have a good appearance (it doesn't have to be formal clothing as long as it is agreeable with the event). Appearance in an event may also reflect the person's attitude toward the event or event's host.

Concepts of Cleanliness: Every Tolmakian must be clean and take a bath everyday. Not only is it favorable but keeps citizens healthy.

Hospitality: Tolmakians love to help. They are naturally hospitable. During disasters, citizens help fellow victims and in major wars, the Tolmakian army may be deployed to protect refugees and provided food humanitarian aid. If an able citizen is not willing to help, he/she may be shamed or looked down upon.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Planning is an important matter, but being spntaneous is also okay. However being spontaneous may have some disastrous results. One who betrays a planned event (such as with friends and family) is considered a flaker and usually shamed, but not too much.

Function of Pride and Humility: Tolmakia's motto is "The Pride in Humility". Tolmakians take pride in being humble and helpful instead of being egotistic and boastful. However (because of the freedom of speech) people may preach and boast their achievements whether through a friendly or competitive snobbish manner. Being humble is an honor to Tolmakians.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: Humor may be divided into two categories: "friendly" and "beyond the line". Jokes regarding each other's family or private matters are usally only told to each other by very close people. Jokes regarding each other's family or private matters that are told to strangers or distant friends may be touchy and "beyond the line" jokes. Racist jokes are discouraged but legal. ("Good") humor is a major part of society and helps citizens be happy and cheerful in their work.

Polycentrism: Tolmakians are open-minded people. They are willing to learn other cultures.

Regionalisms: In Western Tolmakia, other public holidays and celebrations are held. These holidays celebrate the western region as the birthplace of the current Tolmakian republic.

Social Profiling Discouraged

Individuals vs Collectives: Groups are seen as representations of many individuals. However since they are made of individuals, it depends on the individual's work. Through groups, individuals can work and cooperate together.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Trust is very important. To build a relationship a Tolmakian must have trust in the other. During personal conflicts, trust may help in resolving issues.

Meeting and Greeting:
Dos: Compliment something (and mean it), smile, show that you are friendly, shake hands
Don’ts: Compliment something and not mean it, compliment something that is not true, frown, bring up your trivial matters or problems

Gift Giving:
Dos: Wrap it nicely or at least decorated it
Don’ts: Give cheap or very bad gifts (unless somehow the person wants one)

Degree of Gender Mixing: Mixed thoroughly. Women are notable in companies and the military

Dining Etiquette:
Dos: Compliment the food, thank the lord/host/accompanying friend or family member(s) for being there with you
Don’ts: Snort/grunt/squeal while eating, play with your food

Table Manners:
Dos: Use utensils properly, be gentle in using them
Don’ts: talk while chewing with mouth full, rush in eating, gorge everything down, misuse utensils, launch them against other people

Concepts of Personal Space: All Tolmakians have a degree of personal space. To get in someone's own space without their consent is rude and shameful.

Concepts of Time: To use time productively is encouraged. Time may be spent for resting and entertainment. An assigned time (for an event or meeting) must also be punctual.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: Personal relationships do not play a role in business proceedings. However there are exceptions (such as family meetings or involved family members only). A business may be a family "heirloom" and passed on to children. However friends or best friends are considered business associates just like everyone else. In business, people regardless of position or relation are treated as equals or as co-workers.

How Open Meetings Are: Businessmen must be open in order to come to a satisfying agreement.

Communication Styles: Must be done without any emotions interfering or a person's favored matter interrupting. People must be formal and speak politely as well as truthfully

Using Titles and Honorifics: Only done to address superiors or co-workers as a polite and friendly measure. To use it to gain favor is discouraged

Business Cards: Business cards are given automatically or on request. Businessmen may also introduce themselves and their company through cards.

What to Wear: A formal business outfit is always worn. For more casual settings (such as meetings in the tropics or such), businessmen may were ideal clothing.

Business Meetings: Participants must participate (unless are excused and acknowledged as not participating) and must arrive in time. They must be prepared and hold formal appearance.

Time of Day: In the morning, business meetings usually take place before lunch or in "brunch". Most meetings occur in the afternoon from 1 PM to 6 PM. The latest hour may be up until 1 PM (the hour a meeeting ends).

Business Negotiations
Dos: Be civil and polite, be reasonable, cooperate, compliment (and it must be one that is meant)
Don’ts: Be rude or egotistic, unreasonable or uncooperative, compliment when you don't mean it, beat too much around the bush (or say too much unnecessary things).

by **Freemopia** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 2:22 pm

Country Name: Freemopia

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group:mixed

Location: tropical rainforest

Climate: Stays 70-80degrees F year round

Ethnic Makeup: mixed

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: English is main language. Bilingualism is common. Most Freemopians speak at least 2 languages.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief:there is no prevalent religion. There are many different religious and personal beliefs.

Folklore and Superstition: uncommon. Mostly shamed and socially unaccepted.

Social Hierarchies: Mostly shamed and socially unaccepted.
There is an upper, middle, and lower class based on how wealthy/rich a person is.

Importance of said Hierarchies:

Using Titles and Honorifics:uncommon

Important Festivals: There are many important festivals going on all the time, like the civil rights love festival, freedom fest, liberty fest, freemopia fest, tree planting fest, environment fest... Some say Freemopia is a big civil rights love festival.

The Family:Freemopians often live in their own house that their parents gave them by age 5.
Both parents are equally required to provide food, water, shelter... to their biological children and adopted children (except rapists must provide 100% of child support to children that they created from rape).
Everyone makes decisions for themselves.
Many Freemopians get sterilized. Vasectomies, tubal ligation, and essure are highly encouraged.

Concepts of Shame and Honor:
Honorable acts include: dieing or risking your life to save someone, helping the poor, doing what's right when it's unpopular...
Shameful acts include: lying, being a hypocrite, being racist, thinking government is superior, being pro slavery, rape/sexual assault, torture, physical abuse...

Face and Saving Face: Face= a person's face, it has no other meanings in Freemopia.
Honestly admitting mistakes is more honorable and respectable than lying pretending you did nothing wrong.
Discriminating against someone based on what others said about them is generally shamed and socially unaccepted.
People are encouraged not to care what others think/say about them and others.
gossip is good for investigation not discrimination
people shouldn’t be excluded based on things said about them
people shouldn’t assume gossip is true
you can ask the accused person if the accusation is true, if they confess, you can choose to exclude them based on their confession, not based on gossip said about them

reputation/rep= a person's reputation is what others witnessed them do, not what others said about them.
gossip/ rumor/ hear say= what someone says about someone else (true or false)
credibility= the more a person is honest and intergriful the higher the credibility. the more a person is dishonest and hypocrite the lower the credibility.
credible= true
credit= the person that does the good thing gets the credit for doing that good thing.

Directness: Common. Freemopians are encouraged to be direct and not care if it hurts others feelings. No is one of the first words Freemopians are taught. they are encouraged to use the words no and yes. they are encouraged to refuse doing anything they don't like. Refusing an invitation is not an insult in Freemopia.

Ways to express Yes and No:verbally saying yes or no, or a head shake.

Politeness:Politeness generally includes keeping oaths and promises, not being a pervert, not being racist, not discriminating against someone based on things that were not their fault, not being pro slavery, not being a hypocrite or liar... Most Freemopians are polite.

Public vs Private Conduct:Freemopians are encouraged not to try to please anyone except themselves. Most Freemopian's private beliefs match their public actions. Publicly pretending to be someone you privately are not is lying and highly discouraged and socially unaccepted.
Freemopians are encouraged and praised for publicly disliking others (as long as they are not disliking others based on race, lies said about them...). Publicly disliking liars, hypocrites... to warn others is encouraged and praised. Constructively criticizing others is encouraged and praised.
Gov workers are required to report/complain any time gov does something they don’t like as long as not under risk.
Anyone who reports/complains about gov doing something they don’t like under risk is rewarded with $ from gov.
Freemopians are free to be themselves in public. They don't have to conform to socially accepted modes of behavior (as long as they follow Freemopia’s Laws: http://www.nationstates.net/nation=free ... /id=170897 )

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy:same

Importance of Appearance: not very important. A person who looks unclean, or is wearing a pro obama shirt, is less likely to get hired, get customers, and be positively socialized with.

Concepts of Cleanliness: important. Most Freemopians keep themselves and each other clean.

Hospitality: Guests are often treated well and cared for.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Freemopians are often spontaneous and don't often make plans. Planning is usually only done if it's related to work, parties, gatherings, or meetings. Planned events are often based on what date and time works best for all who will be attending the event.

Function of Pride and Humility: Boasting about accomplishments is generally not considered inappropriate in Freemopia. Celebration parties are often thrown after rapists get thrown in jail. Bussiness's often inform others about their accomplishments to attract customers.
Self praise is encouraged and appropriate. Belittling one's self and joking is discouraged and uncommon. Compliments are appreciated. Most Freemopians don't attempt to appear vulnerable in public. Many Freemopians often carry fully automatic machines guns with them in public.
Freemopians are encouraged to not decline anything they are offered if they want it.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor:important. The government is also encouraged to use honest humor. Sarcasm is socially unaccepted.

Polycentrism:

Regionalisms:

Social ProfilingInappropriate. Discriminating against someone based on class or wealth level is inappropriate

Individuals vs Collectives: Most Freemopians are self sustainable. Freemopians are encouraged not to subjugate their own feelings “for the good of the group”, instead they are encouraged to leave any group who doesn't support their own feelings.
Freemopians are encouraged not to remain silent in order to hide their private beliefs. Freemopians are encouraged to disagree publicly.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Important. Liars, hypocrites, and criminals are untrustworthy and must earn back trust from the public in order to be positively socialized with, hired, have customers, be traded with, or receive anything from the public.

Meeting and Greeting:smile, hi.
bows and handshakes are not common.
Dos: smile and reply
Don’ts: touch a stranger without their permission.

Gift Giving: Gifts are generally appreciated if the gift is something the person wanted.
Freemopians often refuse gifts they don't want, and accept gifts they want.
If you refuse a gift at first, you will almost never be offered the gift again. Refusing gifts you don't want is encouraged.
Dos: If you want to give someone a gift, ask what they want or take them shopping and let them pick it out rather then surprising them with something they might not want.
Don’ts: Accept a gift you don't want. Refuse a gift you want.

Degree of Gender Mixing: mixed. Discriminating based on gender is socially unaccepted.

Dining Etiquette:It's not considered rude to leave immediately after eating, except if you do so without good reason you might not be invited back. Arriving on time is appreciated. Arriving early or late is not considered inappropriate. Freemopians enjoy being with guests while they prepare and rest too.
Many Freemopians are nudists. Most Freemopians don't have a guest dress code for their house stricter than shoes, shorts, and a shirt.
Many Freemopians allow nude guests in their house.
It's rude and wasteful to leave food on your plate and drink in your glass. It's polite to eat all the food on your plate and drink all the drink in your glass, or at least take it home to eat later instead of throwing it away. Guests usually serve themselves or order what they want. Hosts usually ask guests if they want something before giving it to them.
Dos:discuss what you want
Don’ts: Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your drink.

Table Manners: Many Freemopians eat outside. Some Freemopians use table cloths, some don't. There isn't a particular food arrangement, each Freemopian does it different. Alcohol is not very common. Guests often fill their own glass.
If offered 2nd or 3rd helpings, initial refusals are taken seriously. Not taking initial refusals seriously is rude, insulting and basically calling someone a liar.
Twiddling with the sticks, licking the sticks, or using them to stir up the food, gesture with them or point them at others, or sticking them in the center of rice is acceptable as long as you don't put a utensil in your mouth then put it into food that is meant for others.
Dos:
Don’ts: Try a bit of everything that is served if you don't like it or aren’t going to eat it.

Concepts of Personal Space: Some Freemopians don't mind getting very close and touchy to strangers.
Other Freemopians rather be asked before being touched by a stranger, and rather nude females ask for permission before getting closer than 5feet, and rather nude males ask for permission before getting closer than 10feet.

Concepts of Time: Time is less important than events and people are. Emotions of a person are considered core to a Freemopian's concerns rather than the concept of time. Deals may take a while to get through as building a relationship with persons are more important first.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: Many Freemopians will do business with people they don't know. Being unsociable isn't considered untrustworthy.

How Open Meetings Are: Meetings are often open and have a friendly atmosphere. Secret Business deals are considered suspect. many meetings are transparent and to be something that the consumers of the company's goods may be able to see and promotes trust with them. Many Freemopians will not buy from companies that are not transparent.

Communication Styles: Agism is rude and shamed. Greeting someone first because they are older is socially unaccepted.
Insincere yeses are strongly shamed, inappropriate and socially unaccepted.
Freemopians are encouraged not to refrain from showing inner feelings.

Using Titles and Honorifics: uncommon

Business Cards:common

What to Wear: Some business’s allow employees to be nude. Other business’s require a certain uniform or dress code.

Business Meetings: Not arriving on time could result in being fired. If you miss a meeting because your detained, you might be fired.

Time of Day: The Meeting is usually arranged at whatever time works best for those who will be attending.

Business Negotiations
Dos:
Don’ts:

by **Geadland** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 2:30 pm

Country Name: The Kingdom of Geadland

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: Geads

Location: Western Esquarium

Climate: Temperate, mild

Ethnic Makeup: Geads: 85.8%, Swedes: 5.2%, Other: 9.0%

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: The business language of Geadland is the Geadish language, a Germanic language which borders on being mutually intelligible with the Scandinavian languages. In the northern parts of the country, there is also a community that speaks a dialect of Swedish. They will still understand Geadish, however. Most of the population can hold a conversation in another foreign language, usually English.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: Just under half the population belong to the Church of Geadland, a liberal Protestant denomination which maintains some Eastern Orthodox traditions. There is also the smaller and more conservative New Orthodox Church and various religions brought by immigration. However, religion does not play a significant role in Geadish society and being overly superstitious is frowned upon.

Folklore and Superstition: There is a rich collection of saga tradition Viking stories. Many of them are as well known to the Geads as fairy tales; they have been portrayed in films and TV programs. There are some informal superstitions (Friday, solar eclipses and "tempting fate" are considered unlucky) but these aren't taken seriously.

Social Hierarchies: Nobility titles still exist in Geadland, but they no longer carry any political power of status, apart from the Queen who serves as the head of state. There is a more significant economic divide between the rich, the middle class and the working class.

Importance of said Hierarchies: Not very. The divide between the economic classes is not as strong as it is in other capitalist economies.

Using Titles and Honorifics: In relatively formal situations, you would address a man as "Hair [Surname]" and a woman as "Frau [Surname]". More formally, you would address a man as "Mister" and a woman as "Erfrau". These are sort of equivalent to sir/miss/madam.

Important Festivals: Christmas and Easter are the most important as both religious and secular festivals. There is also Independence Day (5 May), a patriotic celebration with firework displays and parades. The Harvest Festival in mid-September is often celebrated with a communal feast. The period between the Harvest Festival and St Roger's Day (4 October) is also marked by beer festivals.

The Family: The most common household consists of the parents and 2-3 children. However, single parents and gay couples adopting children are not unheard of these days. Life at home will often centre around your family. The average Gead will see their other relatives 3-7 times a year.

Concepts of Shame and Honor: These concepts don't really exist. They're associated with the Vikings and often encountered in sagas, but don't have an impact on today. To be "shamed" normally means that people laugh at you, rather than despise you.

Face and Saving Face: To be embarrassed or humiliated means to have a load of people thinking you are dumb or silly, rather than breaking social conventions.

Directness: Geads are notorious for being blunt, often to the point of being rude. For example, if someone has snot dangling from their nose, it would considered rude to not point it out to them. Someone would. Businessmen from English-speaking countries who do business in Geadland are often taken aback by how often the people there will critique their ideas and proposals. They're only being helpful, but it does contribute to the stereotype that we're rude people.

Ways to express Yes and No: Normally through the words "Ja" or "Nai". The signals of nodding your head, raising your arms or giving a thumbs up are also understood to mean 'yes'. The signals of shaking your head, crossing your arms into an 'X' shape or (more recently) giving a thumbs down are also understood to mean 'no'.

Politeness: As mentioned above, there is a stereotype that the Geads are rude. They aren't - they're just blunt and perhaps a bit indiscreet. The concept of 'keeping your mouth shut' isn't as strong. In addition, while the Geadish language has several words for 'please', they aren't used as often and can sometimes seem a bit too formal (i.e. like pleading). It's still good manners to stay 'thank you' ("Tak!") though. The Geadish language also has a set of swear words which are related to the English ones, but they're not considered to be as rude.

Public vs Private Conduct: There is some difference. Romancing in public is somewhat frowned upon. Exposing your genitals in public is taboo unless it's in a nudist area (although women exposing their breasts is not actually considered to be nudity) but it's only illegal if 'done with intent to shock and/or offend'.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: The level of contrast varies. In the highly urbanised Audholm and Haage regions, there isn't must cultural divide between the countryside, villages, towns and cities. In the South, the difference is stark: compare the blue-collar socialist city dwellers in Eskrau, Da Fugh and Stanhorst to the agricultural conservative New Orthodox country dwellers.

Importance of Appearance: Society often warns people not to judge people by appearance, but it happens anyway. For formal situations, it is the norm for men to wear a white shirt, suit and trousers and a tie, whereas women wear a plain or patterned dress. It is the norm for men to have short hair and a clean-shaven face. Beauty standards for women are more stringent, though they wear less make-up than many similar countries.

Concepts of Cleanliness: It's important to be clean. Most people wash and brush their teeth daily. It's also usual that you should wash your hands before eating and after going to the toilet. If you have a body odour or smelly breath, not only will people notice but they will point it out.

Hospitality: We don't bother with elaborate etiquette when it comes to having people visit your house. The only things to remember are 1) Let them know you're coming before showing up and 2) Take your shoes off in their house. In the mountains, it's very hospitable. There is a tradition that locals will offer wanderers lodgings for the night, in some cases without asking for money.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Being able to plan ahead is considered a virtue.

Function of Pride and Humility: Being too proud of yourself is frowned upon in society. People often think that if you 'tempt fate' such as by boasting about your accomplishments, you're setting yourself up for a fall. On the other hand, collective pride is viewed highly. Many people consider themselves proud to belong to their hometown, their region, their country and their social groups.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: The Geads value a good sense of humour. There's no real taboos on where you can use it - even in formal situations, it's still appreciated. There's no real taboos on what you can joke about these days and the use of black comedy can come across as being a bit insensitive in the eyes of other cultures.

Polycentrism: Oddly enough, the Geads aren't really into this, despite a strong taboo against racism. Immigrants who move to Geadland are considered to be moving into Geadish culture rather than bringing their own culture to Geadland. This can make it easy for some foreigners to integrate and quite hard for others.

Regionalisms: The 15 counties of Geadland each have a notable regional identity. Many have their own festivals and traditions, as well as distinctive regional accents. The Swedish-speaking county of Leghel has a particularly strong regional identity. There are more informal regions too, such as the more isolated islands, the mountains and the 'Bible belt'.

Social Profiling: It's frowned upon but does happen.

Individuals vs Collectives: The culture is more collectivist than many capitalist countries, but there's still a sense that people should have the chance to live their lives how they want to and belong to whichever groups they choose.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: It's considered a sign of true friendship or love if you can trust someone with secrets and possessions.

Meeting and Greeting: Even the most formal ones, a short firm handshake is fine. Even the Queen greets people that way. Friends and relatives tend to greet each other with a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek, unless they're both male, in which case they tend to shake hands while touching shoulders. People commonly greet by saying "Gud dag!" (Hello!/Good day!), "Gud morg!" (Good morning), "Gud afund!" (Good evening) or "Gude!" (Hi!).
Dos: Give a handshake if in doubt.
Don’ts: Don't give a handshake that's too long, too limp or too crushing. Don't kiss them if you don't know them very well. Don't kiss them on the lips (unless you're lovers). A few more for men: Don't kiss-greet other men (unless you're both gay) and if you have a female friend, don't kiss-greet them unless they have shown they are willing to greet you in this way.

Gift Giving: This is generally something you only do on someone's birthday or wedding day, or at Christmas if they're children.
Dos: Think carefully about what you buy them. AND REMOVE THE BLOODY PRICE TAG!
Don’ts: If they're above the age of 12, don't bother giving them Christmas presents. Don't buy something obviously cheap or inappropriately expensive. If you don't like the gift, pretend you do. This is one situation where Geadish bluntness is NOT appreciated!

Degree of Gender Mixing: Not much at all. Many places even have unisex toilets.

Dining Etiquette: Dinner is a fairly routine and mundane affair. However, many birthdays and festivals are celebrated with a large meal or a meal out at a restaurant. These 'meals', by contrast, are social gatherings that can easily last hours.
Dos: Eat everything. Ask for more if you're enjoying it. Compliment the food. If you're at a restaurant, compliment the choice of venue to whoever took you there.
Don’ts: Don't start eating until everyone's been served. Avoid talking too much while people are actually eating.

Table Manners: Food is normally eaten with a knife and a fork in the 'European style' - you hold the fork in your left hand and cut it into bite-sized pieces as you eat it. Many deserts like cakes, pastries and sponge puddings are also eaten with a knife and fork, rather than a spoon. Other deserts, such as ice cream and fruit salad are eaten with a spoon; as is soup.
Dos: Eat slowly. Use the utensils provided. Chew with your mouth closed.
Don’ts: Don't slurp or burp. Don't lick your utensils or share them with anyone else. Don't talk with your mouthful.

Concepts of Personal Space: Geadish people can be quite defensive about personal space. The rule is that in a public space, you should minimise bodily contact with strangers without actually avoiding them. When talking to someone while standing, you should be far away enough so that they can't feel your breath.

Concepts of Time: We tend to take time quite literally. If someone arranges to meet a friend at 5pm, they would expect their friend to be there no later than 5pm. They would also attempt to arrive a short while before 5pm to allow room for any delays - and they would expect their friend to do the same. If you're going to be late, you should warn them in advance, though that still doesn't make it excusable. 5-10 minutes late is still fairly tolerable. 20 minutes most certainly isn't.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: Your private life and work life are considered separate affairs. Workers tend to be friends with their colleagues and on good terms with their bosses. If they aren't, it goes downhill quite quickly.

How Open Meetings Are: Most meetings are closed, but not secretive. Businesses rarely share or advertise what goes on in their meetings with the public, but they won't treat it as a military secret.

Communication Styles: The goal of business communication is to get the point and to get it over with quickly. 'Management-speak' is frowned upon by employees, but does happen.

Using Titles and Honorifics: Most employees are on first-name terms with their colleagues and their boss. You would use the "Hair/Frau [Surname]" format if you're talking to a stranger in your workplace.

Business Cards: You should only give these out if your company wants you to.

What to Wear:

These days, many businesses allow their "back of house" staff (i.e. those who don't have to deal with customers or other businesses) to wear business casual dress.
For formal situations and for "front of house" staff, it's still the norm to wear formal business clothing.
Other places like shops and restaurants have a uniform for their "front of house" staff.

Business Meetings: Meetings should be fairly short and they should get to the point quickly. There should be a designated chair and someone else to take the minutes. There should be a pre-prepared agenda and everyone should be given a copy in advance. At the end of the meeting is an 'any other business' section when members can raise issues that did not appear on the agenda.

Time of Day: The prevailing view among businesses is that employees are most productive and creative in the morning, so dull routine work like meetings should take place in the afternoon - but not directly after lunch.

Business Negotiations It depends on the situation. Some negotiations are a real battle of wits as the two sides try to get the upper hand in the deal. Other times, there is a more consensual atmosphere.
Dos: Assume that the other side is acting in their own interest. Expect anything. Be polite and respectful at all times.
Don’ts: Don't assume everything they offer is a favour. Don't assume everything they offer is a trap.

by **Russian Socialist Soviet States** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 2:31 pm

Social customs are too bourgeoisie for us.

by **Traekun** » Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:08 pm

by **Fillicia** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:39 pm

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: Fillician Ponies, Virranacean/Miauku Nekos and Humanoids.

Location: Northern

Climate: Cold to temperate
Ethnic Makeup: 56% Ponies, 24% Nekos, 7% Llamas, 3% Humans, 10% Mixed

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: Bilingualism is essential, it is encouraged and at times, required.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief:

Folklore and Superstition:

Social Hierarchies:

Importance of said Hierarchies:

Using Titles and Honorifics:

Important Festivals:

The Family:
Concepts of Shame and Honor:

Face and Saving Face:

Directness:

Ways to express Yes and No:

Politeness:

Public vs Private Conduct:

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy:

Importance of Appearance:

Concepts of Cleanliness:

Hospitality:

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity:

Function of Pride and Humility:

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor:

Polycentrism: Fillicians are Jingoistic when in presence with foreigners,

Regionalisms:

Social Profiling:

Individuals vs Collectives:

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships:

Meeting and Greeting:[b]
Dos:
Don’ts: .

[b]Gift Giving: Common, gifts are viewed as sharing prosperity. When a gift is given, the person who receives it is blessed, as is the giver.

Degree of Gender Mixing:

Dining Etiquette:
Dos:
Don’ts:

Table Manners:
Dos:
Don’ts:

Concepts of Personal Space:

Concepts of Time:

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships:

How Open Meetings Are:

Communication Styles:

Using Titles and Honorifics:

Business Cards:

What to Wear:

Business Meetings:

Time of Day:

Business Negotiations:

by **Imperium Sidhicum** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 7:48 am

Country Name: Imperium of Sidhae

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: Sidhae (~80%)

Location: Milky Way Galaxy

Climate: varies wildly between worlds

Ethnic Makeup: Sidhae ~80%; humans ~20%

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: All business in the Imperium is obviously conducted in Sidh. Many Sidhae take time to learn a foreign language, because it is considered a sign of refinement and a good mental exercise, but generally prefer to speak their native tongue at all times, the more ardent patriots going as far as using translation equipment in dealings with outsiders despite being proficient in their language.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: All Sidhae follow the Way - a philosophical code based in the Emperor's teachings that defines what constitutes being a Sidh. The Way is based in the three core concepts of Loyalty, Duty and Honour, and emphasizes virtues like collectivism, selflesness, industriousness, efficiency, honesty, conformity, obedience to authority and temperance in all things. The Way explicitly rejects individualism and consumerism, teaching that serving one's nation and society is it's own reward, and that one should never crave for more than he actually needs. The Way does not discourage personal ambition and competition, but requires a Sidh to temper them in regards to greater society's needs.

Folklore and Superstition: As in any society, there exits Sidh lore and superstitions, and while some of them may be taken quite seriously as a matter of following tradition, none of them are taken seriously enough to significantly influence Sidh lifestyle. In other words, traditional beliefs and superstitions in Sidh culture are more of customary social conventions than requirements.

Social Hierarchies: Overall, Sidh society divides into those who have served in the military, and those who haven't. Active and retired members of the military, known as "citizens", are the only Sidhae with political rights, the rest being legally referred to as "residents". Residents and citizens share the same rights and duties, save for the right to partake in politics - from the earliest days of the Imperium, Sidhae have firmly believed that one must earn the right to make political decisions by proving his readiness to defend them with his life.

Consequently, the military and members of the civil administration (who are invariably ex-military, full citizenship being a requirement for assuming a government office) command the highest social status, followed by the academic community and the working class. Merchants and financists, interestingly, command the least social prestige (if not necessarily the least influence) due to merely distributing goods rather than producing them.

Sidh society is strictly meritocratic. Having no families or personal property of their own, Sidhae owe their loyalty exclusively to the state, and their social advancement thus depends exclusively on their contribution to it. Being firm believers in self-improvement through tireless work for the benefit of the Imperium, Sidhae have taken the concept of self-improvement to a literal level - professional success is rewarded by granting access to more sophisticated cyber- and genetic augmentations, so that the recipient may perform at his work even better. Hence it is fairly easy to assess a Sidh's social status simply by examining the extent of his augmentations (although it is rarely maed obvious to the eye for aesthetic purposes).

Non-Sidhae lie outside of Sidh social hierarchy and are regarded as "untouchables", i.e., treated with contempt and scorn as outsiders whose presence is only barely tolerated. Sidh society has evolved to be secluded and highly xenophobic because of historical reasons, maintaining a very clear and strict "us/them" distinction.

Importance of said Hierarchies: A Sidh is expected to obey his superiors without question, unless their orders clearly contradict the best interests of Sidh society or require one to engage in un-Sidh acts and practices. That does not, however, mean that Sidhae are expected to be mindless drones - in fact, most jobs give them considerable leeway to use their personal judgement and initiative, as long as the bigger goal gets accomplished.

Socially, however, all Sidhae regard each other as equals, the difference being only in their knowledge and experience. It is a completely normal practice for a general to join his men in a drinking binge in celebration of victory, or for a factory manager to throw a party for the workers in reward of setting a production record. Social inequality is reserved for humans and aliens, who are deemed inferior to Sidhae. In this respect, all Sidhae resemble the ancient Spartans - while some were no doubt community leaders and more accomplished than others, they were still ultimately only "first among equals", non-Spartans making up the inferior classes.

In practice, the more accomplished Sidhae also enjoy greater material privileges, such as comfortable private apartments or even personal estates, but are prevented from using that to their unfair advantage by the fact that all these things still remain state property - should they fail to deliver up to their expectations (which are proportionate to their elevated status), they can just as easily lose their privileges and luxuries.

Using Titles and Honorifics: Sidhae aren't big on titles, seeing it as an unnecessary pomposity. Lord or Lady is used in formal addresses of prominent civil administration officials (such as planetary governors). Military officials are always addressed by their respective rank. In casual conversation, simple "Sire" or "Madame" is sufficient to convey respect, even when conversing to the Empress herself (her insisting to be addressed by no other title than "madame".

Important Festivals: Imperium's Founding Day, Imperial Restoration Day, Day of Wrath (the anniversary of the Emperor's assassination that sparked several-centuries-long period of warfare known as the Age of War), Rememberance Day.

The Family: Being cyborgs incapable of natural reproduction, Sidhae have no families or knowledge of their genetic relatives. At best, a Sidh may have a romantic partner in a long-term relationship.

Concepts of Shame and Honor: A Sidh's honour depends on upholding proper Sidh values - patriotism, courage, devotion to one's nation and race, selfless service of society, integrity, industriousness and diligence, strife for self-improvement, avoiding acts that compromise personal dignity. Everything contrary to these values, i.e., everything un-Sidh is deemed dishonourable and therefore shameful.

Shame is used to a great extent in Sidh legal practice - Sidh laws are far simpler and fewer than in other societies of comparable size and advancement, yet it doesn't impair the overall efficiency of society, since there exists a general consensus on what constitutes proper Sidh behaviour from which one is to determine his conduct in all situations, making formal legal regulation unnecessary. This system effectively eliminates the practice of exploiting legal loopholes - a Sidh will refrain from using an ethically-questionable practice even if it is not explicitly forbidden in order to preserve his good standing in society.

Sidhae use honour system extensively in mutual dealings. A word given by a Sidh is deemed to hold the same power as a formal legal contract, and intentionally breaking one's word is considered a very serious social offense. A Sidh who has developed a reputation of breaking his word to another Sidh will be shunned and reviled by all, failure to make good on his word being one of the most un-Sidh things imaginable and a black mark on one's reputation for a very long time.

Face and Saving Face: A Sidh is expected to maintain his good reputation and standing at all times. Should one transgress against the written and unwritten rules of the Sidh ways, one can restore his honour by various means, such as taking a penance. A penance can take any form from wearing a placard detailing one's offense for a time and enduring public ridicule or taking an oath of silence (within professional practicality) to public self-flagellation or enlisting in the military. In extreme cases, when one stands accused of serious crimes, a Sidh can restore his honour and prevent public trial and disgrace by committing suicide. Suicide is also an acceptable, if not necessarily expected, form of penitence for great failures that aren't in themselves prosecutable under law. For example, a military officer responsible for a disastrous operation may take responsibility by ending his life as an apology for his failure.

A Sidh is expected to maintain his honour and defend against insults on his person. There are a number of "death words" in Sidh culture, insults which are legal grounds for violent retaliation. Someone insulted with a "death word" is expected to act, lest the accuser be proved right, since the failure to retaliate implies one is a coward. Even the Statutes specify that all Sidhae shall have the privilege of defending their honour in single combat.

Directness: Sidhae prefer to ask things directly, having developed somewhat of a reputation among outsiders for their blunt, straightforward manner. While being no strangers to indirect hints and implications, Sidhae prefer the direct approach on the grounds that indirect expressions may be misinterpreted and often suggest a hidden agenda on the expresser's part.

Ways to express Yes and No: Consent or denial is given either verbally, or with a nod/shake of the head. Again, Sidh people have seen no reason to complicate what already worked fine in the early days of their ancestors.

Politeness: Sidhae tend to be quite formal in their interactions, which is reflected in the use of their personal names. A full Sidh name is fashioned in the Roman manner, consisting of a praenomen (first name), cognomen (surname), an optional agnomen (nickname) and an optional Clan name (for citizens only). Strangers and aquaintances will refer to each other by cognomen, also used in semi-formal circumstances (such as in press), adding the agnomen if two or more Sidhae of the same name are present. Use of the first name is reserved almost exclusively for close friends and intimate partners, it being an improper familiarity to use it for a stranger. Clan names are reserved for very formal circumstances that require the full name of the Sidh in question to be pronounced, and most Sidhae do not have a Clan name anyway. Friends may also use agnomens in casual circumstances, but again, not all Sidhae have one, so the generally accepted practice is to address a Sidh by his cognomen.

It is not considered impolite to remind a fellow Sidh about flaws in his appearance or conduct. While doing so may cause offense to outsiders, Sidhae believe it to be a friendly gesture, since it is meant to remind a fellow Sidh to maintain a dignified and presentable image of propriety at all times, and is rarely taken offense of. However, this is expected to be done discreetly.

The use of profanities is acceptable in moderation, when the situation warrants it. Excessive swearing, or abuse of terms and concepts revered by Sidhae (such as swearing on the Emperor's name), however, is strongly frowned upon.

Discretion is a very important aspect in the Sidh concept of politeness. One is not to disclose details of his own personal life unless explicitly asked, let alone gossip about the private lives of others, and it is considered poor form to ask either, unless the situation calls for it (such as during a formal inquiry). Doing otherwise is considered vulgar - speaking openly about one's own personal life is vulgar because it forces the listeners to hear of things that are not meant to be heard of. Likewise, one is not to present his opinions unless asked about them, but it is not impolite to ask.

Public vs Private Conduct: In public, Sidhae tend to be formal, humorless and cold, often to the point of outsiders believing they have no emotion at all. Showing any emotion to a stranger besides a subtle smile or a frown of disapproval is considered revealing one's preferences and hence potential weaknesses. This is not always strictly observed, since Sidh emotions are deeper and more intense than those of humans, and hence more difficult to control. An exception is wherever patriotic sentiment is concerned, in which Sidhae are expected to demonstrate unbridled enthusiasm.

Privately, Sidhae are more open and friendly, if only among close friends, but still prefer to exercise certain discretion. It is said that the only Sidh to know everything about another Sidh is his or her lover.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: There isn't much of a rural/urban dichotomy, considering how most food is produced within the Imperium's great cities, and rural areas are located in the immediate vicinity of these cities, well within easy accessibility and cultural influence range. Rather, there exists a core-world/colonial dichotomy.

Colonial settlers tend to be more open-minded and tolerant of outsiders, as well as more independent and self-reliant than core-worlders, who adhere to traditional Sidh ways more rigidly. That's not to say the colonials have a very different set of values - their ways are such mostly out of practical necessity.

Importance of Appearance: A Sidh is expected to appear neat and presentable at all times. Being organized along military lines, Sidh society extensively uses professional uniforms in order to instill a sense of unity and professional pride in every different craft. When wearing a uniform of his trade, a Sidh is expected to look presentable (within practicality, at least), since he also represents his entire profession in his appearance. Even when dressed casually, a Sidh is expected to look neat and well-kempt.

Concepts of Cleanliness: Personal hygene and tidiness of surroundings is very important for Sidhae. Since the streets and buildings are kept clean round the clock by servo-bots, keeping a tidy home or city isn't very difficult, so that leaves Sidhae with maintaining their own personal hygene. It is not uncommon for a Sidh to take shower three times a day.

Hospitality: That is the one thing that Sidhae aren't famous for. Since most Sidhae live in rather spartan accomodations, they simply have no room to entertain guests in, so visitors are largely a privilege of those who have earned personal luxury apartments or estates. Of course, a Sidh will exercise proper manners and courtesy when receiving a visitor under any circumstances, but will usually not make a habit of inviting anyone over. Inviting someone of the opposite sex to one's home also implies the desire to engage in sexual intercourse, and accepting such an invitation means consenting to such a possibility, unless it is a formal invitation for multiple people or a specific purpose.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Sidhae pride themselves on being very efficient and punctual people, so planning is everything. A Sidh will often plan his day by the minute, and will not take kindly to anyone whose negligence forces him to alter those plans.

Function of Pride and Humility: It is very poor form to boast or brag in Sidh society, especially with insufficient grounds to, but neither is a Sidh expected to be unduly humble about his achievements. A Sidh is expected to maintain an appropriate and proportional sense of self-worth while remembering the "pride goes before fall" maxim.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: While Sidhae may seem humorless and cold to outsiders, they are not without a sense of humor, although it is more of the subtle variety that is often lost upon outsiders.

An example: A famous Sidh general defeated in battle by an equally-esteemed human general was asked by his adversary of who, in his opinion, was the greatest human general in recent history. The human apparently hoped to be named such, being the only one in recent times to have bested this Sidh. The Sidh, however, named a different general. The human inquired again, and the Sidh named a yet different one, and added that he would name himself as the first and greatest, if only he were human. The pun of the anecdote is the subtle and ellegant way the Sidh general defused his foe's arrogance and at the same time flattered him.

Of course, Sidhae are no strangers to less refined humour as well. Overall, Sidh jokes tend to be pretty dark and macabre in theme, often featuring violence and death in their punchlines.

Polycentrism: Sidhae flatly reject the notion, seeing their culture as the epitome of civilization in the galaxy. At the same time, they are not too ardent about spreading it beyond their borders, believing it better for the unenlightened barbarians to come to them after witnessing the benefits of Sidh civilization.

Regionalisms: Unlike in Federation of Mankind, which is composed of worlds populated by many diverse human cultures, Sidh culture is largely uniform all over the Imperium. Part of why that is so is the Sidh culture itself - emphasizing unity, Sidhae are generally disinterested in developing any local variants of the mainstream Sidh culture, although some diversification between different worlds is inevitable.

Social Profiling As with every society, Sidhae too prefer to socialize with people of roughly their own social class and status, although there are exceptions, where socialization is deliberately meant to eradicate class differences and increase unity, such as the military, where officers even among the highest brass are expected to act as "first among equals" and constantly be present among the ordinary troops in both battle and off-duty.

Formally, social profiling is discouraged. Word of the Emperor explicitly reminds of that - "Be you great or humble, but know that your fellow Sidh serves the Imperium same as you!"

Individuals vs Collectives: Sidh society is a collectivist one, emphasizing conformity and subjecting individual interests to those of the collective. The entire Sidh culture effectively evolved from military culture and lifestyle, which has never left much room for individualism.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Trust is a very important aspect in Sidh social culture. Betrayal of one's trust is an unforgivable offense, and any such act will be an indelible black stain on one's honour. Hence, no crime is more reviled and hated in Sidh society than that of treason (someone blatantly betraying Sidh values and lifestyle being deemed a traitor as well as one selling out secrets to the enemy). Trust is even more important in the context of the antagonistic attitude that Sidhae harbor towards outsiders, so betrayal is never taken lightly and has often been the cause of duels to the death, the betrayed person declaring it a personal affront and demanding vindication.

Meeting and Greeting:
Dos: The Imperial salute (a variant of the Roman salute), delivered with the words "Ave Imperator!" or "Ave Imperatrix!" and used by the military, is also a completely acceptable way of formal greeting in civilian life. A full salute may only be rendered with a headdress on. In the absence of a headdress, one must instead perform a half-salute (slapping a fist on one's chest and exclaiming "Ave!") In semi-formal and informal circumstances, a simple handshake with a slight bow is the proper way of greeting. In special circumstances, such as when meeting a very high-ranking official, somebody one holds a great personal reverence to, or when wishing to make a formal apology, one should kneel down on one knee to show deference.
Don’ts: Rendering the full Imperial salute with exclamation "Ave Imperator, Ave Imperatrix, Ave Mater Incognita!" is inappropriate for all but the most formal circumstances. Sidhae of different sexes do not shake hands unless formal circumstances require so.

Gift Giving:
Dos: Gifts should be small and symbolic, without a great monetary value.
Don’ts: One should refrain from giving expensive gifts, since that implies expecting a favour in return, a rather dangerous implication under formal circumstances.

Degree of Gender Mixing: Men and women socialize freely, public bathrooms being almost the sole exception.

Dining Etiquette:
Dos: Every guest present at the table should call one toast. The first toast is always called by the host, or the eldest and most distinguished Sidh present, and is traditionally for the Emperor. When the first toast for the Emperor is called, all guests must pour a little of their drink on the floor in libation to the Emperor's spirit. The same is observed when a toast is called for any other deceased individual. Men must pour drinks to women, but never the other way around - a woman pouring drink in a man's glass is implying that she has a sexual interest in that man.
Don’ts: One should never put a fork or chopsticks vertically in leftover food, since that implies cursing the host/establishment. It is poor form not to finish one's drink in a single gulp after calling a toast. One should never pour drink to another overhand, since that also traditionally implies cursing the individual, and should use only one hand in pouring a drink to another guest.

Table Manners:
Dos: In many colonies, it is considered good form to retch loudly after finishing eating as a sign of having eaten one's fill. This is contrary to the core worlds, where such a thing would be considered bad manners. This convention was born in reaction to the core-worlder manners that the colonists deemed overly refined and rigid.
Don’ts: One should refrain from talking while eating. While some conversation is not a taboo, it should be kept down to a minimum. Sidhae believe there is due time for everything, the focus of meal time being eating, conversation being reserved for before and after. An exception is a lavish formal dinner, when the guests are in no hurry and expect to spend a long time at the table, in which case conversation is acceptable. One should eat quietly, without making much noise.

Concepts of Personal Space: Physical contact with a Sidh that is not a close friend or lover is an inappropriate familiarity and will be taken offense of. Staring at someone is also likely to cause offense, potentially with violent retaliation - in a society of cyborgs, someone staring at another may very well be illicitly scanning or recording him.

Concepts of Time: Sidhae are punctual people, so it is considered bad manners to be late for an appointment or meeting. Ideally, one should arrive 30-15 minutes before. One should always inform other involved people about sudden changes in plans.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: Being generally cool and formal in public interactions, Sidhae do not deem personal relationship in business important. What matters to them is the quality of service rendered. Personal relationships are only important in businesses catering to niche customers of relatively limited numbers.

How Open Meetings Are: Meetings are closed, limited strictly to those invited to them. Participants may, however, invite prospective contributors to a meeting with the host's permission.

Communication Styles: One should be formal, brief and to the point. Small talk is discouraged, Sidh businessfolk sticking true to the principle of "time is money".

Using Titles and Honorifics: If prominent officials holding the title are present, one should address them as "Lord" or "Lady". Military personnel should be addressed by their rank and cognomen.

Business Cards: Living in a digital age, Sidhae can exchange business contacts on their multicoms, no special cards being necessary.

What to Wear: Obviously, one should dress formally. Sidh businessmen don't show much appreciation for casual style, since that suggests a lack of seriousness and non-conformity, both undesirable traits in the Sidh world of industry and commerce where everything is run with clockwork precision.

Business Meetings: Meetings are usually hosted by the party seeking to make a purchase or commission. By taking the expense of the meeting upon themselves, they demonstrate sincere interest in the deal and indirectly also having the means to make good on it by demonstrating their office and conference room, which traditionally feature evidence of the host's business accomplishments.

Time of Day: The best time for a meeting is considered late afternoon, about 2-3 hours before the end of the work day.

Business Negotiations
Dos: One should think through every answer before speaking out, and show minimal emotion.
Don’ts: One should never rush to answer. That creates the prospective partner an impression that one is desperate to make the deal and might hence be a bad investment.

by **Seliyan progressive Islands** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 3:03 pm

Country Name: Federal Republic of Seliyan progressive Islands

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: European

Location: a stretch of Islands somewhere in the Pacific Ocean

Climate: tropical to sub- tropical

Ethnic Makeup:
Humans: 57.4% (European: 37.6%; Asian: 10.2%; Mixed Ethnicity: 7.9%; Other: 1.7%)
Anthropomorphic animals: 42.6% (Cats: 17.2%; Foxes: 16.5%; Rabbits: 6.5%; Mice: 2.5%)

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: English is the only official language in Seliya, and has to be learned by every citizen. However, there are many minority languages, and many people are in fact bilingual.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: No religion: 57.4%; Christianity (mostly Protestants): 26.3%; Buddhism: 6.2%; Hinduism: 5.3 %; Other: 4.8%

Folklore and Superstition: Being superstitious is not a very good idea in Seliya, at least not openly. People think it´s ridiculous.

Social Hierarchies: Mostly inexistent. Although first- generation immigrants from developing countries may find it difficult to get into the more high- paid positions.

Importance of said Hierarchies: Very little.

Using Titles and Honorifics: Unusual. So unusual that it will be considered rude in some areas to use them.

Important Festivals: New year celebrations usually attract the most visitors, although Seliyas official holiday No. 1 is the National Foundation Day, celebrated on the fourth of September.

The Family: Well... some like it, some don´t. It´s a very private thing, and therefore not debated too often. But generally speaking, while some find living in a family to be more convenient, every citizen is expected to be able to stand on their own feet if necessary, and not rely on family members - we are a very individualistic society.

Concepts of Shame and Honor: If you ask a Seliyan about either of these, the likely answer will be: "Ah, those strange things that keep getting into the way of success in other countries." We think that shame is an irrational emotion, and honor is just ethics for "people who don´t want to think". A good citizen is one who has a nice job and does it well, pays his taxes, abides the law and keeps his nose out of other people´s business. So honor isn´t all that relevant here; fairness, responsiblity and reciprocity are the foundations of our ethical beliefs.

Face and Saving Face: Mostly irrelevant.

Directness: A direct question will trigger a direct answer. An inderect question will also trigger a direct answer. So, you could say we are very direct. However, we also value our peronal privacy very much, and it´s actually considered rude to bother someone with things they obviously don´t want to hear. We don´t like to talk around things; but we do have a sense of when it´s better to just shut up.

Ways to express Yes and No: Just say it. Seriously. Nod or shake your head for emphasis, but not as a sole means of communication.

Politeness: That´s actually quite important. Yelling, shouting, or even talking loudly, is considered to be rude. Personal insults are an absolute no- go. In most areas, it´s recommended to not have an appearance that seems like you want to draw attention to yourself. And talking around things or "stealing people´s time" is generally considered to be unpolite.

Public vs Private Conduct: There´s quite a lot of difference here, not so much in tone and behaviour, but rather in the topics that can be discussed. Generally, in the public, focus is required, and talking about things irrelevant to whatever is the purpose of the current discussion is seen as unpolite. In private, this may be part of casual small talk, and is perfectly okay. And, as a tendency, extravangant behaviour and appearence tend be more tolerated in private than in public, but the extend to which this holds true varies.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: Significant, definitly. People in the cities hold more liberal views on average, are mostly non- religious, tend to casually ignore anything that doesn´t directly affect them, are often singles, and have a larger income. On contrary, the rural areas hold more value on politeness, family and community, and are culturally homogenous by comparison.

Importance of Appearance: The best appearance in most circumstances is the one that attracts the least attention - unless that´s what you´re actually aiming to do. So, "plain and clean" is a good formula for dressing without causing irritation. Not that people particularly mind being irritated. It´s more about convenience.

Concepts of Cleanliness: Cleanliness means "not being dirty". So, taking a bath or shower on a regular basis, as well as washing your clothes, is recommendable. It doesn´t have any meaning beyond the prohibition of infectious diseases, though.

Hospitality: Meh... don´t expect much of it. Being an island nation, space is always in short supply in Seliya, so it´s become customary to meet with friends or colleagues in a public area, not in your home - it´s often too cramped. So, we don´t "invite" people, we "meet" them: at a cafe, a public park or something similar, and it´s common for everyone to pay their own bills in any case.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Planning, definitly. We value punctuality, precision and people who know what they are doing.

Function of Pride and Humility: You can legitimately take pride in anything that you achieved yourself, but don´t tell others about it if they don´t ask. Irritional pride or boasting is considered to be unpolite. Humility, on the other hand, would be associated with low self- esteem, and people might recommend that you visit a psychologist about that. Don´t take it as an insult - it´s not meant as one, rather as a friendly piece of advice. So, the best thing to do is to have a realistic view of yourself, and only talk about it if someone asks you.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: Humor is important in Seliya; if you get the chance to make a joke, use it. In a private context, yo can make almost any kind of joke, provided you don´t actually insult anybody who is listening. Most people here aren´t in the least bit prudish or sensitive, so you will find it quite difficult to actually offend them. On the other hand, in an official context, more sophisticated humor would be appropiate, and a sign of mental capability, while low- level jokes would be unpolite.

Polycentrism: Seliya is a federal state where the regions retain a significant level of independence, and also quite muliticultural due to immigration, so indeed, we support polycentrism. There´s a limit, however, and that limit is the federal constitution. Anything within it is fine; anything outside will be viewed with deep suspicion, or even outrage. We have a tendency to judge other societies by our own standards, probably precisely because these standards are very liberal and pluralistic. Many people believe that we included every cultural believe one could legitimately want to include, and that anything beyond that would lead to anarchy.

Regionalisms: In Seliya, the region of Mingia is known for it´s separatist tendencies, mostly because it´s the only region where Asians form the largest ethnic group, which created a distinct local culture. Otherwise, the southern areas (which are more densely populated) tend to lean left in politics, while the northern ones tend to lean right (except for the northernmost province Mingia, which is a case of it´s own).

Social Profiling Essentially outlawed by the federal anti- discrimination laws.

Individuals vs Collectives: Seliya is highly individualistic in social questions, but has a slight tendency towards left- wing economic policies. Basically, the only acceptable form of collectivism is the tax- funded social security system.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Trust is at the very core of our society. If you think you cannot trust someone, you should avoid contact unless it´s absolutely necessary (this relates mostly to business, where people tend to distrust each other, but still have to cooperate. Some say our economy is only held together by tight government regulation. That might also be part of the reason for our left- wing economic policies).

Meeting and Greeting: Say "hello" followed by the other´s name if you know it, and shake hands.
Dos: Use people´s first name - it´s a signal that you trust them.
Don’ts: Hugging and other close physical contact is inappropiate even in most private contexts.

Gift Giving: Only common for birthdays.
Dos: Gifts don´t have to be complicated or expensive. Choose somethings that the recipient can relate to, as a means of showing that you care enough about them to know some of their personality traits.
Don’ts: Don´t give any presents that are too large (remember, we haven´t got much space here).

Degree of Gender Mixing: Our society mostly ignores gender, so it´s totally mixed. Gender- specific social groups are viewed with suspicion.

Dining Etiquette: We don´t have any such thing beyond basic politeness and hygienic standards. Seliyans are notorious for not caring much about where they eat their food, and also for not having any regular meal schedule. The only time that almost everyone can agree on is breakfast, which is generally not cooked; througout the day, people will have two or three "food breaks", in which they usually go to a so- called "snack- point", buy their food (they´ve got a lot of variety of both warm and cold food), sit down on a park bench, eat, and then proceed with whatever they were doing. We don´t have dinner as such, either, mostly because schedules are already rigid enough during daytime; in the evenings, people enjoy to relax, which means they eat whatever they like, whenever they like, and mostly fast food (yes, the "snack points" are actually the healthier part of what the average Seliyan citizen eats, and they usually offer high quality). If you meet up with friends in the evening, you would rather go to the cinema, disco, theatre et cetera then eat something - actual restaurants are unusual, unlike the street cafes , which can be found on almost every corner and are widely used by people who have the day off from work and just want to socialise.
Dos: N/A
Don’ts: N/A

Table Manners: Nothing unusual, except fot that we don´t really care (see above).
Dos: N/A
Don’ts: N/A

Concepts of Personal Space: Personal space is taken very seriously, and invading other peoples privacy is considered extremely rude, if not downright antisocial. This is especially important for one´s flat or house. Don´t show up there unless you got invited - and if that happens, it´s pretty save to say that you are already close friends with your host. Another thing is that most people don´t appreciate it if others ask too personal questions; be careful here. As stated above, Seliyans are very direct in conversation, but that makes it all the more important to know what topics not to talk about.

Concepts of Time: Rigid as a clockwork. It´s a question of consideration to show up for meetings exactly on time; and also to plan them ahead, so that others don´t have to change their schedule on short notice.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: Seliyan companies tend to distrust each other. They usually don´t bother to build up personal relationships in which this situation might change; that would take too much time. Rather, they make sure that their contracts are foolproof, so that trust is actually not necessary. On the other hand, it is crucial for a company´s internal structures that employees can trust each other, and the managements go to great length to ensure a friendly working atmosphere.

How Open Meetings Are: Openness is important; otherwise, there could be no trust. Meetings are, therefore, as direct as any other conversation; the general rule is "speak your mind, or shut up". Of course, this applies only within a company; meetings with externals have a completely different style. While they are still direct, the approach to conversation will be much more cautious, as both sides try to figure out the other´s incentives.

Communication Styles: Mostly to- the- point, efficiency- orientated. Diverting from the topic is inadequate, as well as personal remarks. Be sure to have backup data for whatever claims you intend to make. Keep a neutral, objective style of talking. Meetings function as brainstorming work groups; they don´t have a real hierarchy, so appeals to authority won´t help in the least bit, as the only thing you can realistically appeal to in a company is profit.

Using Titles and Honorifics: No. Just no. Titles alone don´t make money, it´s the ideas that count.

Business Cards: It´s customary to exchange business cards if you meet a colleague for the first time. They are mostly functional objects that contain the companies logo, the employees name and contact data, and information about their position within the company.

What to Wear: Casual, unpretentious, neat and clean. Don´t try and use your clothing as a way to get attention; it will only divert from what you actually have to say. Clothing should radiate professionality, but don´t overdress or people will think you are ridiculous.

Business Meetings: As stated above, meetings between represantatives of different companies are a critical thing. You have to give the other side a reason to believe that you are honest, and that reason should not be your moral integrity, because businesspeople tend to believe that everyone is as opportunistic as themselves. Stay polite, keep on the topic, and don´t delay the meeting. Other people have schedules, too.

Time of Day: Meetings usually take place quite early in the day, so that people can have their first "food break" afterwards at around twelve. And if a date is fixed, it´s fixed.

Business Negotiations Once both sides have established their goals, negotiations are usually swift. Don´t try dragging out the discussion to coerce the other side into making concessions; that makes you look suspicious. Negotiations serve the purpose of sparing both sides money, so give them a reason to believe that this is what is actually happening.
Dos: Stay calm, stay focused. Others will exploit any weaknesses you have, so keep a clear head and judge the situation rationally.
Don’ts: Don´t make personal appeals or emotional remarks. That would, again, be a weakness that could harm your position.

by **Novus Niciae** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:21 pm

Country Name: Novus Niciae

Prevalent Majority Ethnic Group: Genetically Engineered Mutant (GEM)

Location: Alpha Sector & Beta Sector , Galaxy

Climate: Various

Ethnic Makeup: GEM 98%, Human 1% , Minds 0.5%, Other 0.5%

Business Language and Beliefs on Bilingualism: Latin, Bilingualism is common and every citizen will have at least a basic level of fluency in a language other than Latin.

Prevalent Religious or Personal Belief: Secular

Folklore and Superstition: N/A

Social Hierarchies: Meritocratic , the skilled and knowledgeable are looked up to as the leaders of our society.

Importance of said Hierarchies: Moderately important.

Using Titles and Honorifics: In most circumstances titles are only used where they are relevant to the situation at hand. But we love to show how knowledgeable and accomplished we are so on formal occasions someone will introduce themselves with their full list of ranks and titles.

Important Festivals: Most of our festivals are seasonal (Summer, Winter , Spring & Autumn festivals) but we have some that commemorate important historical events like foundation day and victory day.

The Family: The traditional Nician family is a line marriage where people marry into a household that may have several hundred spouses. Some of the older houses are thousands of years old and incredibly wealthy , with new spouses marrying in to replace older spouses.
Children are usual raised by the mater secunda of the house, who is a spouse (usually female) who cares for the children of her spouses and the biological mothers (mater prima) assist her in this task.

Concepts of Shame and Honor: honesty, intellect , wisdom, bravery and fortitude are considered to be virtues and following these virtues defines our sense of honor and shame.

Face and Saving Face:

Directness: Nicians are direct almost to the point of rudeness , to be anything else is considered to be dishonest. They will tell you exactly what they think about something.

Ways to express Yes and No: Nodding and shaking the head is acceptable, as is a thumbs up for yes and a thumbs down for no.

Politeness: Politeness and respect are seen as the same thing, if someone has earned our respect we are polite , and if they have not then we are aloof.

Public vs Private Conduct: There is only subtle differences between public and private conduct. In private ranks are usually set aside and people are treated as equals , but in public we are a lot more hierarchical.

Rural vs Urban Dichotomy: Most citizen live in densely populated urban areas and the countryside is occupied by a few families and their automated farms.

Importance of Appearance: A neat appearance with a well maintained uniform is considered to be the ideal.

Concepts of Cleanliness: We take cleanliness extremely seriously and bathing is considered a public social occasion with the public baths being one of the social hubs of the community, we bath twice daily in the morning and in the evening and it is considered customary to bath in public at least once a day to keep up with all the latest gossip from the community. The baths also are an area where normal hierarchies are relaxed and everyone is more or less equal. We also have no nudity taboo so mixed bathing is considered the norm.

Hospitality: Since we have more than enough for ourselves we are very hospitable to guests, both on a national level and on a private level.

Importance of Planning and Spontaneity: Most events tend to be planned months in advance so that they run smoothly, but some flexibility is allowed.

Function of Pride and Humility: It has often been said that we are haughty and arrogant around outsiders, we don't disagree with this.

Importance and Appropriateness of Humor: Our humor tends to be subtle.

Polycentrism: We consider most other races we have seen to be quite barbaric , there are some exceptions but as a culture it takes a lot to earn our trust. (it also helps if you speak Latin)

Regionalisms: There is very little regional variation since we have fast communications and any changes to our culture tend to spread quickly.

Social Profiling If you have very few formal qualifications then you will be treated as being somehow deficient and looked down on and pitied. And if you have a criminal record people will distrust you.

Individuals vs Collectives: We tend to act as a group first and an individual second. People are defined by the groups they are affiliated with.

The Importance of Trust in Social Relationships: Gaining our trust is difficult , but we are loyal once that trust is earned.

Meeting and Greeting:
Dos: Introduce yourself in the most direct way possible and include any appropriate ranks and qualifications you may have
Don’ts: Lie about yourself.

Gift Giving:
Dos: Downplay the importance of the gift (Please accept this humble gift)
Don’ts: Wrap the gift, this is considered to be concealing something

Degree of Gender Mixing: All genders mix freely.

Dining Etiquette: Hunting is considered to be the ideal way to obtain meat so expect to see a lot of meat in our meals and very few vegetables as these are usually added either for flavor or as a garnish.
Dos: Eat everything you take from the serving platters and bowls , you can take as much or as little as you like but taking more than you can eat is considered to be greedy. Bringing some food for a group meal you are invited to is considered to be polite and everyone present is expected to sample some of what each of the guests has brought exceptions can be made for baseline humans not wishing to eat some of the more exotic (and probably poisonous) delicacies offered.
Don’ts: Waste food , during the aftermath of the civil war food was scarce and we learned to appreciate it.

Table Manners:
Dos: Showing obvious enjoyment if you like the food is considered to be praising the person who made it and encouraged. You may eat any way you feel comfortable but try to avoid making a mess.
Don’ts: make a mess.

Concepts of Personal Space: We have almost no concept of personal space and sitting close to someone is considered to be a sign of affection.

Concepts of Time: Precise to nth degree , we are punctual to a fault.

Business Etiquette

Importance of Personal Relationships: Inviting business associates to social events is considered to be extremely important. Just don't expect to discuss business there.

How Open Meetings Are: Anyone can speak and express their opinion (even someone who wasn't invited can express an opinion) , but more weight will be given to the opinions of appropriately qualified individuals when decisions are made.

Communication Styles: Get to the point when business is being discussed. keep things as concise as possible without neglecting important details.

Using Titles and Honorifics: Important, when you first introduce yourself include your full list of ranks and qualifications, a shortened form can be used afterwards.

Business Cards: An exchange of portfolios or resumes is considered to be the same as business card. And people will offer to transfer this data to any device you happen to use when they introduce themselves. This is so they can prove their are qualified.

What to Wear: Whatever is necessary for you to do your job. But aside from that you can wear whatever you like or even be naked if you prefer.

Business Meetings: They are usually scheduled and arriving late or leaving early is considered to be rude.

Time of Day: Meetings usually happen around mid morning and end at lunch although sometimes they can be paused for lunch and continue for as long as required.

Business Negotiations
Dos: Be direct and to the point and make your offer as soon as possible. Be honest.
Don’ts: Lie

by **Imperial Nalydya** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:26 am

Politeness and Social Customs in Your Society

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