The Villain: A seasoned manipulator will get into the habit
of asking you questions mid-answer. This behaviour is regarded as abusive,
especially by Communications Judges, though judges will recognise that it is
necessary to interrupt answers if one has a large number of questions that are
pre-written, not reactive.
Reactive questions are aimed at stopping you from answering
previous questions by exploiting your rhetoric. In other words, imagine that
some one commissions you to paint a woman. You are half way through painting
her when some one comes up to you and says: That looks like a mountain. I told
you to paint a woman! You begin by demonstrating what a mountain looks like,
showing the mountain to be distinct from your painting. Yet an other person
comes up to you mid-painting and says: I don’t want a STREAM! Paint me an Ocean
in stead.
By the end of the day you have a multitude of unfinished
paintings that all your critics deem worthless.
The Solution: Answer one question at a time. Do not allow
your opponent the advantage. Say: “Excuse me. Out of consideration for you and
your previous question, as well as the judge, I would prefer to finish this
painting before beginning a new one.”
Dm.A.A.
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