Needles & Angels: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_many_angels_can_stand_on_the_head_of_a_pin%3F
I actually have no direct experience of working relationships with americans, so I can say nothing about it. But to me it seems rather unworkable when your manager/supervisor/advisor/prof. tells...
I think that we're in of danger of landing in a discussion to ascertain how many angels can sit on a tip of a needle ...
OP made the point, more complicated than needed and with a rather superfluous 1984-reference, that, niceties aside, professors should allways be truthfull towards their...
It's my guess that what OP is alluding to are cultural differences.
In one culture, fi east-asian culture, one will allways try to save face and be evasive when asked for a potentially embarrassing opinion.
In the US there is a general tendency to accentuate the positive and fair...