History Main / YouDoNotWantToKnow

* The second episode of season 1 of ''Series/TheBasilBrushShow'' has the cast trying to come up with ways to catch a mouse. Steven is eager to use his first plan. But it's so wacky, non-sensical and not related to the mouse, that when he asks for everyone's opinion, they just look at each other and Basil says: "You really don't want to know" Before moving to Dave.

** In another episode, Joey walks into the apartment tuxedo which causes Chandler to leap out his seat shouting "VOMIT TUX! NO, NO! VOMIT TUX!". Monica starts to ask what he's referring to, but cuts herself off mid-sentence after Joey shakes his head at her and pivots to asking why he's so dressed up instead.

* About 80% of ''Theatre/OedipusTheKing'' is this trope. Oedipus wants to know why his kingdom is dying, [[DramaticIrony without having any idea]] that it's his own fault. The [[ParentalIncest reason ''why'' it's his fault]] is, of course, horrifying enough to result in him [[EyeScream putting out his own eyes.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTwistedTalesofFelixTheCat'': In "Step Right Up", Felix visits a carnival sideshow and sees an ordinary-looking woman sitting. A nearby boy asks the lady what is so special about her, and the woman says this verbatim in [[LarynxDissonance in a deep masculine-sounding voice]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'' there is a long running gag involving Skipper with this called the "Copenhagen/Denmark incident". It´s seems he is unable to set foot in Denmark for unknown circumstances after being declared that country´s Public Enemy Number One. When Private asked "What happened at Denmark?" (and any other character, even if they made the slightly commentary about this) he only gets the "You don´t wanna know/ask about that Private!!!" from Skipper. Partially reverted as the show goes on, with one episode explaining Hans the puffin had framed him, and some details about the incident involving explosions and a high-speed chase, and another revealing it has something to do with open faced sandwiches (yeah...just '''don´t''' ask...)

** The modern Ankh-Morpork post office declares that neither sleet nor snow nor gloom of night shall stay these messengers about their business, with its own "don't arsk us about" list. Mrs. Cake appears twice.

* A more heartwarming version of this trope appears in ''Film/TheShawshankRedemption''. When Andy defiantly plays a soulful Italian opera piece over the prison intercom (Sall'aria, from Mozart's ''The Marriage of Figaro''), Red muses that he doesn't want to know what the ladies in the song were singing about, preferring to think it was something too beautiful to be put into words.

'''Flass:''': What's the difference?\\

* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' season three demonstrates how not to do this: a character whose power is treated as a "you don't wanna know" situation turns out to be [[StockSuperpowersIndex something pretty basic]]: your typical [[SuperScream sonic scream]] thing, and not even (that we saw) to Black Bolt-esque mega-destructive levels.[[note]]Said power was originally intended to be {{terrakinesis}}, on par with the BigBad of volume five, but was cut due to budget restraints at the time.[[\note]]

* ''Fanfic/SpiderNinja'': According to [[spoiler:Captain Stacy]], the Turtles will be much happier if they never learn what [[spoiler:Dr. Mann]] did that landed him in prison for life. What he does say is that the crime scene was so bad some of the cops needed therapy for a while.

* In the ''Wraith Squadron'' books of the Literature/XWingSeries, Imperial agent Gara Petothel caused the deaths of every member of Myn Donos's squadron, [[MyGreatestFailure which sent him into]] a HeroicBSOD. Later Gara Petothel [[TheMole joined his new squadron]] with plans to destroy this one as well, but she began to [[BecomingTheMask enjoy her life in the squadron as "Lara Nostil"]] [[HeelFaceTurn and decided to become a member for real]]. She and Donos started falling in love with each other, but she knew it could only end badly as she was only going to be able to hide [[AwfulTruth the secret]] for so long.
--> "I could say twelve words, and when I was done, the least you'd do is turn away and leave me alone forever."\\

** Later:
--> '''Myn Donos''': "I want to make you smile with something [[DeadpanSnarker other than a wisecrack]]. I want to know who you really are."\\

-->'''Wedge''': Any of you understand that? Her mood swing?\\

-->'''Face:''' Somehow, every time I learn something new about Palpatine, [[BrainBleach I wish I hadn't]].

* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' season three demonstrates how not to do this: a character whose power is treated as a "you don't wanna know" situation turns out to be [[StockSuperpowersIndex something pretty basic]]: your typical [[SuperScream sonic scream]] thing, and not even (that we saw) to Black Bolt-esque mega-destructive levels.
** Said power was originally intended to be {{terrakinesis}}, on par with the BigBad of volume five, but was cut due to budget restraints at the time.

** Similarly, in "Mr. Monk Is On The Run: Part 1", after Monk arrives back at Natalie's house with a strange overcoat, he said a homeless person gave it to him in exchange for something else in return. When questioned by Natalie about what that thing was that Monk had to do, Monk can only respond with "I'd rather not talk about it..."

* ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'': This is often used when players question facets of the [[BigBad Godmodder's]] past.
** A single, comprehensive backstory was given for the Godmodder in [=DTG2=]. [[TheUnReveal It answered pretty much none of the questions that had been asked.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/GodRocks'': In a ''[=RocKidsTV=]'' "Parable Playhouse" segment, after the God Rocks group sings a jaunty sea shanty, Gem tells everyone that the kingdom of Heaven is like the fish they catch - like how the fishers keep the fish, God will keep anyone who follows the statutes of Christianity forever. When Chip asks what happens to everybody else, Gem's only response is "You don't wanna know." and to keep him from guessing.