Democratic Debates Live
Out of context: Reply #61
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- flavorful0
On a serious note, I noticed this as well. Obama (like other great speakers, Robert Kennedy as the main inspiration for this technique) makes a point to leave time between the question, or when the other person is done talking to provide distinction between the two. You notice silence, it actually draws you in during a dialog, or debate. It shows that you are thinking of your response as opposed to jumping in like a robot giving the answer you were conjuring up just waiting for the other person to stop moving their lips. I use this technique in the right situations, it's a powerful tool when used correctly. You don't wait so long that people think you're gathering flowers for Algernon, but you don't answer so quickly that it looks like you don't take the question seriously.
This of course only lends itself to the start of answering the question of course, and not the pauses he had while continuing to formulate his thoughts while speaking. That did kind of irk me, but I was really glad he wasn't using "uh" so much. It's such a horrendous verbal disease in America, haha.
Though since I am for Obama (and like a lame-o am actually wearing an Obama shirt, hahaha), I of course looked past the pauses thinking to myself, "Well, he is just making sure he is choosing the right words and I'm glad he is making a point not to stick his foot in his mouth accidentally on some of these topics."
That's enabling.
But I still stand by it. The pauses were immensely overshadowed by what he said, and on most topics his responses were very fluid and more importantly candid ... well actually more importantly what this country needs.
- This can work while talking as well, to emphasize points - letting your audience know you want that to stick with them.flavorful
- I wanted to clear up my second paragraph.flavorful
- Great commentary Lou Dobbs aka Flavorful...utopian
- Did you just call me a fucking asshole who should die a slow and painful death, haha?flavorful