obligation to answer questions<!-- --> | <!-- -->The Australian Dictionary of Invisible Culture for Teachers

The Australian Dictionary of Invisible Culture for Teachers


obligation to answer questions

norm: when it is like this, it is good to do some things (see more)

Many people in Australia think like this:

I can say what I think.

I can say to people “You know something. I want to know it.”

If someone says to me “You know something, I want to know it” it is good if I say it. It is bad if I don’t say it. (If I can't say it, it is good if I say why I can't say it.)

Note

'I can say what I think' is important here because it emphasises the fact that a speaker shouldn't refuse to answer a question because of the content of the answer. The idea 'You know something, I want to know it' is usually expressed as a question.

"What's the password to your computer?' 'Sorry, that's private information, I can't share it."

"What do you think of the new teacher?' 'Well, I don't really like his teaching style. He seems too strict."

not giving commandsagainst needing to have the same opinionhaving different opinionsholding your own opinionnot saying 'I know'justifying what you think (when you think something bad)I think versus I knowability to express opinions


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