Stonewalling is a tactic used to delay or derail conversations, often associated with a refusal to cooperate. It can be frustrating, but can also be advantageous. People can obstruct each other by remaining silent, deflecting questions, or spreading out little information. Stonewalling occurs in politics, relationships, and business. Options for dealing with stonewalling include walking away, probing for cracks, or stating awareness of the obstruction.
Stonewalling involves using various tactics to delay or derail a conversation. The term is generally associated with a refusal to cooperate or a deliberate attempt to make a conversation completely pointless. Many people find stonewalling extremely frustrating, especially when they’re trying to deal with serious problems, although the tactic can also be used to advantage in some situations.
This slang term refers to a literal stone wall, which tends to be a significant obstacle. When someone obstructs someone, they essentially act as a wall in the conversation, making it impossible for things to move forward. One could even say that talking to someone who is trying to obstruct someone else is a bit like talking to a stone.
People can obstruct each other in a number of ways. The simplest is to simply remain silent and refuse to answer or react when questioned or provoked. Some people like to use this stonewalling technique when dealing with individuals they deem to be unreasonable, believing that by refusing to fuel the conversation or altercation, they can end the situation more quickly, or at least encourage the other party to take a break. pause and cool off.
Stonewalling can also be accomplished by artfully deflecting each question asked, refusing to answer questions, or responding to questions with additional questions. Answering questions obliquely or unclearly is also a form of stonewalling, as is spreading out as little information as possible to prolong the conversation. In most cases, the goal of stonewalling is simply to create a delay, rather than putting off the conversation forever.
A wide variety of people in an assortment of situations can be accused of stonewalling. In politics, people are often accused of stonewalling when they refuse to answer questions about political issues and issues, especially if those questions are being asked by a committee that is supposed to be investigating a situation. Stonewalling also manifests itself in interpersonal relationships and in the business world, where delays can sometimes be turned into critical gains.
When someone is standing in your way, you have a number of options. Some people find it best to walk away and let the other party think through the situation before trying again. Others think that probing will eventually create a crack in the wall that could be exploited, although this can take some time. Sometimes, simply stating awareness that you are being obstructed is enough to encourage cooperation.
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