We live in a world where it's better to keep your mouth shut and not offend others but is that really good for ourselves or those around us. Sometimes it's good to just be upfront about how you really feel so that you can work through your feelings and develop a stronger relationship with the person you are upset with. Otherwise, you can hold onto a lot of anger and resentment and become more distant as friends.
Being direct also includes getting straight to the point instead of taking a long path with several variations along the way. Sometimes when being asked a question it's best to just say "yes," "no," or just simply "I don't know." Sometimes when you try to act like you know what you are talking about you start rambling on about various things, but sometimes it is best for everyone to just admit that you don't know and move on from there.
I believe that if we all would start saying how we really felt we could work past a lot of things. There has been many a time when I feel like somebody doesn't like me or that something is going on with them, but I don't want to be nosy. I hate it because inside it stresses me out and I just want to know what's going on, so most times when people hurt my feelings I just try to tell them so they aren't wondering. Furthermore, if they ask me if I'm okay I will just tell them what's going on, I don't try to hide my feelings and have them guess what's going on.
There have been many nights when I've worried about things I've said and how people felt about it because everybody is so close-lipped nowadays. I've laid in my bed crying because I didn't know how people felt and I hate that. I could have just asked them, but instead the monster in my head tells me that I can't do that and instigates so many problems.
However, eventually I finally just told the person what was going on and we were able to work out some of the issues, yes it will probably happen again where I will get upset, but at least I know that I can say something to that person. Which is important when somebody confronts you with how they feel. Sometimes they just want somebody to listen and understand what they are feeling, and when you shut them down and get defensive it makes them feel uncomfortable with sharing how they really feel.
So sometimes it's good to just tell people how you really feel and it's good for them to be supportive and be willing to listen when they are at their lowest. The benefits you get will be worth it instead of holding in all those feelings until you blow or stalking them to try to find out what's going on.