Let's resolve to have fewer awkward conversations in 2022: a flowchart
From your friends at Inappropriate Questions podcast
Becoming a better conversation partner would be a great, achievable New Year's resolution for most of us. A common piece of advice for having great conversations is to ask good questions. But how can you tell when curiosity crosses the line into nosiness?
The Inappropriate Questions team are experts in awkward questions – their podcast is all about them. We asked them to put together a flowchart to help people decide when to go for it and ask, and when to consider a different topic. (Of course, it'd be impossible to anticipate every possible situation, so please be mindful and use your best judgment.)
Happy New Year and here's to having better conversations in 2022.
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Image Description:
Title: An Incomplete Guide to Whether You Should Ask That Inappropriate Question
A vertical flowchart with purple, pink, and light blue boxes against a dark blue background. There are arrows between boxes for various options.
A disclaimer reads: *Everyone is different! We can't predict how people will feel in every context so be mindful.
Is my question about their body, race, finances, sex life or family?
No: Do other people probably ask them this question a lot?
No: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
Yes: Would I like it if someone asked me this question?
Yes: Have they ever said they don't like it when people ask this?
No: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
Yes: Consider asking about something else
No: Consider asking about something else
Yes: How close am I with this person?
Very: Have I asked them this before?
Yes: Did they seem annoyed the last time I asked?
No: Is the answer likely to have changed since?
…No: Consider asking about something else
Yes: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
Yes: Probably don't ask
No: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
Somewhat: Am I asking because we may have a shared life experience?
Yes: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
No: Do they sometimes bring this subject up themselves?
No: Consider asking about something else
Yes: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
Not: Is this the first thing you're asking them?
Yes: Is this for legal or medical reasons?
No: Probably don't ask
Yes: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
No: Are you going to drop it if they don't want to talk about it?
Yes: Okay, you can ask (politely!)*
No: Probably don't ask
At the very bottom, text reads: To learn more, listen to Inappropriate Questions from CBC Podcasts.
