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loaded_question
A loaded question embeds a presupposition or assumption that has not been established, forcing the respondent to implicitly accept it by answering. Any direct answer to the question appears to confirm the embedded assumption. It is a rhetorical trap that constrains the terms of discussion before the discussion has properly begun.
"Have you stopped cheating on your taxes?" (Presupposes the person has been cheating on their taxes; answering 'yes' or 'no' both confirm the assumption.)
During a press conference, a reporter asks a politician: 'When did you decide that the interests of corporations mattered more to you than ordinary citizens?' Any direct answer implies the politician has already made that decision.
A manager asks an employee in a performance review: 'Why do you consistently struggle to meet deadlines?' The question presupposes the employee consistently misses deadlines, even if that hasn't been established.
Binary (yes/no) questions an LLM must answer to identify this aspect:
Does the question contain an unproven assumption or presupposition?
Type: binaryWould answering the question directly force acceptance of the embedded premise?
Type: binaryCan the question be answered with a simple yes or no without accepting something unproven?
Type: binaryA loaded question embeds a presupposition or assumption that has not been established, forcing the respondent to implicitly accept it by answering. Any direct answer to the question appears to confirm the embedded assumption. It is a rhetorical trap that constrains the terms of discussion before the discussion has properly begun.
Social norms pressure people to answer questions directly. Rejecting the premise of a question feels evasive, so respondents often accept the embedded assumption without noticing it.
Reject the premise explicitly before answering: 'I reject the assumption in your question. I have never cheated on my taxes.' Then reframe the question fairly.
A staple of cross-examination in courtrooms, aggressive journalism interviews, political debates, and push polls designed to shape opinion through biased question framing.
Use these tools to detect, analyze, or train this aspect.