13 thoughts on “How To Ask A Question”

  1. This is much less of a problem at “unconferences” / Open Space events, which I heartily recommend.

  2. Don’t you agree that you are an ignorant buffoon?

    What a great line. Someone should try this at a press conference with a politician.

  3. I’d like to reply with “Have you tried those tasty little cucumber sandwiches in the lobby? They’re delicious!”

    1. I’m partial to the paragraph before:

      The best questions are poised between attentiveness to what the speaker has already said and the chance to deepen the discussion. That means you should not try to introduce a divergent topic.

      I know someone that could benefit from understanding and applying that concept. But then, Ken, your line fits that someone equally as well.

  5. What annoys me is the “moderators” of debates who do a fantastic job of keeping the debaters in-line but then allow anyone from the audience who stands up in front of the microphone to waffle on for 10 minutes. 30 seconds is how long you get to ask your question, and if it doesn’t start with an interrogatory word then there better be a good reason. The jerk running the show should shut down blabbermouths who get up to express their opinion, we didn’t come to the debate to hear their opinion, we came to hear the opinions of the people on the stage!

  6. I think he hit the root of the problem with this,
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    “Mr. Nixon, you are unworthy of being president,”…
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    It seems to me that if the event leans RIGHT, the left takes over and most of the questions come from this kind of sentiment. Or if the event leans Left, they’re absolutely sure they are right and there are no hard questions.

    (name ONE tough question this Admin has had to answer)

    But a total lack of both civility and no possibility of anyone’s mind being changed have worked well together to block off serious well thought out questions in search of an honest answer. No one, it seems, wants an answer. Most questions are made for the ‘sound bite’. Or to make the speaker look better than he / she truly is.

    But there is no end to questions worded like that old chestnut, “…are you still beating your wife?”

    (of course, that one is only asked of non-liberals)

  8. Great article.

    (8 paragraphs of useless background information)

    I used a lot of these approaches in a science advisor debate leading up to the 2000 election. 3×5 cards were used, but my question ended up getting asked.

  10. Oh comeon Rand, I can’t think of a single instance at a Space Conference were someone went off on asking a 5 minute statement just to show how smart they are… 😉

    ~Jon

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