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<\/a><\/p>\nEvasion???\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Innovation, creation and even harmony I can understand. But what is one meant to take away from a meeting room entitled Evasion? Role plays about how to be a politician and never answer a question perhaps? Media training has taught me a bit about that:<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a very interesting question. Now let me tell you about\u2026.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
and a segue into something totally different that is the point you want to get across and not the awkward question that the interrogator really wants the answer to.<\/p>\n
Or perhaps you don\u2019t know the answer to how many million unemployed there are, or what the percentage of GDP that is spent on research is, in which case evasion is a useful technique to cover up ignorance:<\/p>\n
I\u2019m glad you asked me that question. I\u2019ll leave it to my Honorable friend on my right to give you the precise figures.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Then there is the case of evasion to avoid self-incrimination. In the UK we don\u2019t have the opportunity to \u2018plead the 5th<\/sup>\u2019, so one has to rely on some other form of extrication. The simplest trick is simply to reply \u2018no comment\u2019, but that is a give-away of guilt as often as not so more subtle responses are preferable. I suspect these will usually implicate others in any wrong-doing. So, for instance, the answer to<\/p>\n
\u2018Did you know your grant money was being improperly spent?\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
is probably<\/p>\n
\u2018I leave such details to the administrators\u2019;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
or to<\/p>\n
\u2018Were you aware there was serious bullying going on in your group?\u2019,<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
an evasive answer might be<\/p>\n
\u2018I consider that a matter for HR.\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Those answers probably won\u2019t get anyone off the hook, but they might buy some time.<\/p>\n
Evasion is not a tactic that smacks of high probity or integrity. So why name a meeting room after the ploy? Is there some meaning of Evasion in Walloon that means something more honourable, or was the room named by an irritated visitor to the city frustrated with the behaviour of Eurocrats? In an idle moment I\u2019ve come up with a list of alternative words ending in \u2013ion that I feel would have been preferable, plus a second list that I think are on a par for unsuitability. Please amuse yourselves by adding to both these lists!<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n Good or Not-so-bad Words<\/strong><\/td>\n Pretty Dire Choices<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Stimulation<\/td>\n Exhaustion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Reflection<\/td>\n Perspiration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Rejuvenation<\/td>\n Desperation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Characterisation<\/td>\n Trepidation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Persuasion<\/td>\n Inundation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Correlation and its close friend Causation<\/td>\n Procreation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Generation<\/td>\n Damnation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Improvisation<\/td>\n Inebriation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Estimation<\/td>\n Stupefaction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Jollification<\/td>\n Tension<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Maturation<\/td>\n Procrastination<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Education<\/td>\n Defenestration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n
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If my last post discussed an important point that doesn\u2019t typically receive much notice \u2013 although I\u2019m glad to say the post, and its accompanying repost on the THE website both did \u2013 this current one is meant simply as … Continue reading