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That's a Great Question!


 

I have been listening to a lot of radio interviews lately. There is one phrase that I have been hearing a lot. The interviewer will ask a question and then the interviewee will say “That’s a great question,” or some variant of “ that’s a good,” “great,” or “interesting question.” Are they trying to suck up to the person doing the interview? The subsequent answer usually shows me that in was not in fact a “great question.” It is usually a very average or obvious question. It seems to me the interviewee is just stalling for time while they think up a response.

I think it is sort of the equivalent of saying “uh” or “um” as your brain is stalling to catch up. One time my friends and I played a game where someone starts a story and then you are supposed to continue it as long as you can, but as soon as you say “uh” or “um,” you are done. Most of us only lasted about thirty or forty-five seconds or so (me worst of all). But my wife got on a roll and just kept going. I think we had to stop her after about five minutes or she would still be going. What does that say about her brain versus my brain? I haven’t a clue. Maybe her brain is more organized than mine, or maybe I am more impulsive and it gets me twisted in knots. On the other hand, Barrack Obama interrupts his speech with uh and um a lot, I mean, a lot (although sometimes he uses “aaaaaaaaand”). Yet, he seems like a reasonably organized fellow, so I don’t think I will stress about it too much.

Still, saying uh and um too much has a negative connotation. Maybe that’s why people shift to try to do something else like saying “that’s a great question.” It is happening so often that I am beginning to think that people are being coached to say it when they are formulating an answer. Maybe there is a TED Talk out there, giving such helpful advice. I suppose, just occasionally, the question asked might have been a great question, but that compliment has been so diluted through overuse to be meaningless. So, my recommendation would be, if you are ever interviewed, save that comment for when it is apt.

Star liner

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