Straight talking people are just rude?

[triggeredhappy]

I know a few people who pride themselves for being direct or "straight talkers", they like to "tell it how it is", but many of them are not well liked. Obviously, they say they don't care about that. I think they can be quite rude and abrupt.
One colleague gets lots of complaints because of the way she speaks to people. But to be fair she is quite good at her job in the way that she gets what she wants, but people do the work begrudgingly. She has since left and there is talk of her coming back to do a maternity cover, everyone is terrified!
Personally, I'm only direct when I need to be, most of the time, I think diplomacy is more effective in the long run when working with people? Or do I risk being a bit of a doormat? People don't drop everything to do what I want but I think I have a better relationship with people?
What do others think?

I love no nonsense, no drama, straight as a die, to the point straight-talkers who have no side or agenda. They don't get involved in silly beggars. Love them.

However people who "tell it like it is" are usually nothing like that. They are rude, petty and difficult. I do not like them so much.

You can be straight talking without being an inhospitable prick.

Telling it like it is?

Depends. A friend of mine prided herself on being a straight talker. Didn't take any crap, put her feelings and wants out there etc. However couldn't take it when others did. Can't have it both ways!

Fair point actually since I described myself as a straight talker upthread, I should also say that I prefer people to be straight talkers to me to.

Which doesn’t mean being rude to me, or me to them. I refer to straight talkers as the ones who don’t prevaricate or use euphemisms (in RL in conversation I find euphemisms very hard to understand) and if they are offended or upset with me, will come and speak to me and explain why. If I was wrong or had inadvertently offended them I would always apologise. If I meant to offend them, with good reason, I’d say that too.

Too not to!

If asked a question I will give my truthful answer, that's what I consider straight talking.

Whereas my SIL just likes to tell people how it is unasked for and loves commenting on how people, should be to me that is rude but I imagine she would describe herself as straight talking.

Is it cultural?
I certainly found when I moved down south people got offended if I actually answered their questions with my own opinion if it was different to theirs. It was a bit of a culture shock to me. I was used to calling a spade a spade. No one got offended, differences were worked out, debated and discussed quickly.
Now I find no one says what they actually feel and disagreements fester behind people's backs.
I prefer the straight talking to behind the backs whispering.

Now I find no one says what they actually feel and disagreements fester behind people's backs
I prefer the straight talking to behind the backs whispering

I can’t understand backbiting and talking behind someone’s back. It smacks of playground bullying.

Either calmly speak to the person you’re upset with, and resolve it somehow. Or just be quiet and get on with it.