Influence, Fear and Retribution

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When you have a fear of retribution, what do you do? Say nothing? Do nothing? Avoid it? Withdraw? If you choose to confront a problem head-on, you may indeed face a risk of negative reactions or consequences. For every single person you interact with, there is a 'line' you should not cross. But that line is shaped differently with each and every one of us. How do you know how direct you can be, what demeanor a person will respond to, or what type of questions will provoke them? It's kind of like a minefield.
One approach to this minefield is to stay as far as far back from the line as you possibly can, so you don't set off an explosion by accident. A far more influential approach, though - especially with someone you interact with frequently, or who (like your boss) has decision-making powers above you - is to map out the line over time by carefully approaching it in different areas. You will set off a few small explosions in the process, to be sure; but the level of influence and 'push'-potential you gain make it well worth the effort.