Provocative questions are destructive in their essence: they are asked not in order to obtain the necessary information, but in order to humiliate the interlocutor, offend him, and confuse him. However, if you learn to answer such questions correctly, you can not only protect yourself, but even change the situation for your benefit.
Instructions
Step 1
If possible, start the answer with agreement or with the words of the association: “of course,” “you are right,” “other people say so, but we all know …” and so on. You do not argue with the interlocutor, but agree with him or separate him from other people, so that he has no apparent reason to continue to provoke you. Then you can slightly change the answer in your favor. For example, if you are asked if you are reasoning that way because you are too rich and unable to understand ordinary people, answer that you are, of course, rich - spiritually rich.
Step 2
Hang on to the question and direct it against the other person. You can find fault with an incorrectly placed stress, an unsuccessfully used word, for any little thing. So you can turn the provocateur into a victim. There is also a rougher option - to find some kind of flaw in the appearance or behavior of the interlocutor and transfer the conversation to him. Thus, the person is often easily confused. In addition, you can pretend that you misunderstood the question and start attacking your interlocutor.
Step 3
Say that the question asked by the other person has already been discussed a huge number of times, so answering it is a waste of time. You can say this with a bored look, as if the question asked has bored you for a long time, and you do not understand how anyone else can be interested in it. This will reduce the importance of both the discussion and your interlocutor, and prevent further attempts to provoke you.
Step 4
If you are offered two options for an answer, each of which will testify not in your favor, either choose both, or look for the third. For example, if at an interview you are asked what is more important, a good job or a high salary, you may answer that the salary is one of the motivations, and you would like to devote yourself entirely to work and not worry about the fact that your family has nothing. there is. If you are offered two extremes, choose something in between.
