To ask or not to ask?

I’m in a quandry.  As it goes, I’m curious about L.  You see, I met him right before i relocated.  We talk on the phone everyday, and I’ve seen him once since we met about 1 month ago.  I think we have good communication, and I’m okay asking him what I want to know, and for the most part, he’s been responsive to my mild form of the spanish inquisition.  Yesterday, I asked him what people would say about him if I were to ask.  His response was enough to send off signals. He was honest about his not so excellent past, but quick to let me know that I shouldn’t ask questions (from other people) if i’m not ready to hear the answers.  So cryptic! Naturally, I’m very curious.   So, I want to ask two pals about him.  These two pals and I are friends, not close friends, but pals that I would trust to give me at the minimum, non-malicious information.  And they both know him longer than I have. Currently, none of them know about me and him, and by asking, it would definitely lead me to answer questions that I’m not sure I have answers to (for example, are you all dating/serious? yikes! its all so new, i don’t have an answer). Also, one of the pals is a good friend of his ex (which is a post for another day), so there’s that dynamic.   

  I can’t help but think that my curiosity is subterfuge for a deeper issue. Why should it matter what other people think? Aren’t there people who are sheeps in public, but wolves in the dark?  Due to past hurts i’m extremely guarded with my heart.  I’m really not that interested about what he did in the past, i’m more interested in character.  But aren’t past actions a prediction of future actions? Wouldn’t his past for the most part account for part of his character.  Granted, we all make mistakes and none of us are perfect, so there are things out there I can’t hold against him.  On the other hand, am I really ready to deal with the answers? Will i even listen if i learn of something that’s quite appealing. If i ask, do I not trust him? Am I insecure? Am i naive not to ask? Isn’t this the same as “googling” someone, except you are actually speaking to a real-live human being?  I’ve never solicited information about any of my exes from people.  I truly believe I am the only person who can decide what I think about someone. However, I have been guilty of clouded emotions that do not allow me to see the real deal.  More aptly, I am usually unwilling to see the real deal. 

By the way, he was quick to point out that he wouldn’t ask anyone about me, and if anyone did tell him, he could care less what anyone else thought of me.  Now, what am i suppose to say in response to that?