Why are we reluctant to name the bleeding obvious?

I had the honour of speaking at the Australian Institute of Office Professionals conference yesterday and also was part of a panel with other presenters. I was surprised at the applause given in response to a very short answer I gave to a question about elephants in the room. I said "Name them and humanely remove them from the room."

Why are we reluctant to name the bleeding obvious?

Is it a lack of self-confidence?

Is it a fear of being unpopular?

Are we worried about what other people think?

Part of my answer is in my blog post If you know it speak it. 

The bottom-line is that if we want to change our world we need to be the change we want to see.

If not you then who?

Be the difference you want to see in the world.
Ian