08-01-2019, 02:45 PM
(08-01-2019, 12:57 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Interviewing is a skill, a skill which requires a combination listening and speaking if done correctly. I think you and I could agree with that statement. At least as far as the profession of journalism.
When I think of an "active talker", I see someone like Rush who I would not consider to be an "interviewer". More like a Goebbles-style propagandist. In this example, the talker's need to express their agenda overrides any true listening to a contrary point of view. At best you get 'faux listening', feigning listening for dramatic purpose while waiting to express the agenda in the form of an attack.
Going back to the example of BiL, I would probably state that my experiences with working with black people were different and quickly follow-up with another question. And, yes, I know that is not "why" he is racist. He sees the world through racist lens that color it a certain way. But directly pointing that out to him is doomed to failure anyway, right? And, once again, this is all assuming the he already would know how you feel about this. Is that a correct assumption? You had discussed this before over the years, right? In that case, you are already "the challenge". You represent the ideology he does not want to see. I'm not talking about feigning to be "on someone's side" here. I don't see anything wrong with telling someone you don't feel that same way or your opinions are different in active listening. It is more about when you feel compelled to tell them "why they are wrong" in the process. That makes a disagreement of views into an adversarial situation. And that kills communication.
I'm certainly a fanboy, but Howard Stern is a master at the interview process. He engages while he talks and listens. I'm sure many still think of him as just having porn stars on and throwing baloney at women (which wasn't true even back in the 90's) but the guy can literally take any person and make an interesting interview out of them. If you haven't done so, listen to his interview of Conan O' Brian, Paul McCartney or basically anyone. His David Spade interviews are always great as well.
