In the context of running a startup in the Bay Area.<p>For example, a post I read eons ago described how, when talking to an investor, and they ask you if you're talking to other investors, you always say yes. The reason being is that you always want to appear to be able to give them competition, and moreover, if you say no you look inexperienced.<p>Any other catches like that you can think of?
When you meet someone you often say things like: "Hey how are you doing? or "How is it going?" These phrases are not intended to be literal questions but are actually used to gauge the other person's feelings towards you. From their tone and the length of their response you can determine whether they want to expand the relationship or are indifferent. These meaningless phrases are actually an important part of social interactions, despite having no apparent meaning.
In parts of Mexico it's considered embarrassing to admit not knowing how far away someplace is. The conventional solution is to use the code phrase: "Quatro kilometers, señor.
Whether it's investors/bosses/clients, if you're invited to share your weakness/inexperience on premise that doing so is a sort of strength through honesty; it's a trap, and the right answer is expected to be the opposite.
Using self deprecating humour in the Anglosphere may signal confidence. In Germanic countries it will get you pitiful nervous stares.<p>I don't know about the Bay Area but I've heard uptalk is prevalent there specially on tech.