The Cost of Avoiding Sensitive Questions

Re:The Cost of Avoiding Sensitive Questions by Thorentis on Sunday December 15, 2019 @10:14PM (#21800554)

I thought you were going in a different direction with this. To me, sensitive questions are very much in the first observation you pointed out (known unknowns). i.e. things we know we don't know about somebody. These things are often sensitive and therefore avoided in casual conversation. Not every known unknown is a sensitive questions, but a question by definition implies an unknowing. You ask so you can discover (unless you're perhaps asking as a conversation starter in a particular topic).

I'm not sure I follow what you mean by "unknown knows". How is a sensitive question an unknown known?

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Re:The Cost of Avoiding Sensitive Questions by ronilan on Sunday December 15, 2019 @10:33PM (#21800622)

A sensitive question is one for which the answer is an Unknown Known.

Put differently, answers in that quadrant are the ones the questioned individual would like to avoid. As long as you, the asker, avoid asking them, there is a peaceful equilibrium. Once you ask such, you become a hostile.

Or put in the original context - Unknowns Knowns are coverups.

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Re:The Cost of Avoiding Sensitive Questions by AstralStorm on Monday December 16, 2019 @03:14AM (#21801534)

I do not get this classification. The answer is fully known to the person who tells you, just has emotional valence such that they'd prefer not answering. Or you will prefer to not having heard the answer.

Most of the time it is also possible to deduce it partially. (but careful about that) Unless it is something very unusual.

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