> ask. Direct. What could happen?

Some of us (well, me anyway) learned as children NOT to ask anything that could be taken as a criticism. And just about anything could be so taken. What could happen? Threat to life?

You say, it is now, not then. But the lesson was learned very thoroughly. Are you SURE it won't happen this time? What are the guarantees?

Maybe you get some idea what some of us struggle with.