Hi,
This week's email is about an evasive rhetorical technique that people use.
The information here is from my article.
Here are the key practical points you should know:
Equivocation is the deliberate use of vague or ambiguous language, with the intent of deceiving others or avoiding commitment to a specific stance.
For example, when a person is asked a direct yes-or-no question, and gives a vague response that doesn't answer the question, that person is equivocating.
While lying involves telling a falsehood directly, equivocation is about concealing the truth that people are interested in.
To respond to equivocation, you can ask the speaker to clarify their point, stick only to relevant information, and commit to a specific stance.
Equivocation is sometimes reasonable, like when someone is pressured to give their opinion on a topic they’re uninformed about, and people sometimes appear to be equivocating when they’re simply conveying their uncertainty.
As always, I'm happy to hear your thoughts.
Have a great week,
Itamar