As an Eastern European, also on the spectrum, this nature of passive aggressive communication proliferating especially in the Bay Area really grates me. I prefer to resolve conflicts directly; it's more efficient.
Continental Europeans seems to show a greater directness.
Or do you mean can't as in "the person is in a more powerful position in general"? Then I'll tell them directly but in a polite way. In the worst case we won't make business together.
Example please.