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I'm looking for a word that describes that feeling you get when somebody (of a group typically thought of having more power in society) brings up a group (typically thought of having less power in society: minority groups, women, LGBTQ) and you are hesitant to agree with them even though they are right (Like, in this hypothetical scenario they factually are, they're not twisting the facts or anything). It's kind of the same kinda gross feeling you probably got when you read "even though they are right" in a post loosely about racism from a stranger on the internet.

This is the best explanation I can come up with. Is there such a word?

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    Since you've tagged this as a single word request, you should include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used.
    – KillingTime
    Commented Aug 7, 2023 at 6:06
  • 3
    Would cognitive dissonance fit your request?
    – CowperKettle
    Commented Aug 7, 2023 at 6:26
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    "I hate to agree with you but you are right."
    – ermanen
    Commented Aug 7, 2023 at 6:43
  • The situation is often called a stopped clock moment (or broken clock or sudden outbreak of common sense), based on the fact that even the wrongest clock, i.e. one that has stopped, tells the correct time twice a day. (Obviously it's possible to imagine a clock that never tells the correct time and is impossible to predict, but that was very rare in the days of clockwork mechanisms, and even an entirely random clock is right occasionally.) I've no idea what the sensation of experiencing this is called, but you could try searching for such terms.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Aug 7, 2023 at 9:56
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    English doesn't tend to have words for feelings about such specific circumstances. It's not like German, with words like schadenfreude.
    – Barmar
    Commented Aug 7, 2023 at 23:53

1 Answer 1

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Apprehension: This captures the sense of hesitation or unease that might arise when you find yourself agreeing with someone from a perceived higher societal position, particularly when discussing sensitive subjects like race or inequality.

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    This isn't at all specific to the situation the asker is describing.
    – alphabet
    Commented Aug 7, 2023 at 12:16

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