Equivocation (Peter Bull)

Thirty-five ways to avoid answering interview questions

1. Ignoring the question e. Claiming ignorance

2. Acknowledging the question without answering it 7. Making a political point

3. Questioning the question a. Attacking an external group (the opposition or rival groups)

a. Requesting more explanation b. Referring to policy

b. Bouncing the question back: ‘You tell me’ c. Defending policy

4. Attacking the question d. Reassuring

a. The question does not address the key topic under discussion e. Appealing to nationalism

b. The question is hypothetical or speculative f. Presenting a political analysis

c. The question is based on a faulty premise g. Self-justification

d. The question is not accurate in terms of facts h. Defending your own party or opinion

e. The question contains an erroneous quote 8. Providing an incomplete answer

f. The question contains a quote that has been taken out of context a. Starting an answer but not finishing it (interrupting yourself)

g. The question is offensive b. Providing a negative answer: the politician says what is not going to
happen instead of what is going to happen
h. The question is based on a wrong choice
c. Giving a partial answer
5. Attacking the interviewer
d. Answering only half of the question
6. Refusing to answer
e. Giving only a fraction of an answer
a. Because you cannot answer
9. Repeating the answer to the previous question
b. Because you do not want to answer
10. Saying or implying that the question has already been answered
c. ‘I can’t speak for someone else’
11. ‘Excusing’ oneself: (‘Excuse me, but…’)
d. Delaying the answer (‘You will have to wait and see’)
12. Taking the question literally