Hello world, I am still alive.

Just been busy with school stuff. The second half of term is always a time when the gates of Hell open... and the demons of project work, term papers and midterms rear their ugly heads.

Anyway I've been sitting through and carrying out a few presentation recently, and I've noticed something. In nearly every presentation, there are always some idiots in the audience (aka course-mates) who love to make the presenters' lives miserable during Q & A. I don't mean to stereotype, but I just can't help it. Their common but ugly traits are just too terrible to ignore.

So far, I've identified 3 types.

1) Stupid Questtioners

After spending much time and effort designing slides and lecturing on an abstract concept, these people just don't get it. During the Q & A session, instead of asking constructive questions, they love to say things like "Eh... I don't understand that part. You are not very clear leh..." These people just don't seem to get it that not every topic is easy to explain, just as not everyone is born with some form of a brain...

They are especially sickening as comments like these often influence a lecturer's grading of the presentation, as it points to poor communication skills on the part of the presenters (even though most of the time it's due to the questioner's lack of attention). I mean... instead of saying that you are clueless in general, why not either shut up or ask a more specific question?

How to Deal With Them:

Whack them in their Q & A when it's their turn. Show no mercy just as you have been shown none. If they've already presented, don't worry, there's always a next time...

2) Opportunistic Questioners

Note that I am not discriminating against everyone who asks a question here. Some presentations have loop-holes large enough for a Boeing 747 to fly through, and as such should be given their due feedback. However, what irritates me a lot is when a person's questioning behaviour is inconsistent.

It's common for some groups to present before others, and as such chances are that there are people in the audience who have already presented. Don't you find it odd that before their presentation, they keep a low profile and remain relatively silent? However, suddenly when their presentations are over, they have this huge burst of inspiration and energy to ask questions relentlessly. It's alright if they ask questions which are easy to answer or clarify understanding, but it can turn brutal when these queries attack the core of your arguments.

How to Deal With Them:

Enlist the help of your allies. If a particularly irritating person keeps questioning your arguments, get a smart-mouthed group member or person in the audience to answer him back. He'll shut up when he sees that he's out-numbered, and perhaps, out-smarted.

3) Off-topic/Vague Questioners

Just as there's always a black sheep in every family, so it is that there will always be people who like to ask certain questions. However, the questions I am referring to are either off-topic or vague. People who ask these often do so to appear attentive, participative, deep-thinking and smart. Their questions include vague queries that ramble on and on (such that you're not clear on what the hell they're asking about in the first place) or involve issues that are outside the scope of the presentation (which require deeper research that no one has the time to do).

How to Deal With Them

This one is relatively easy. If they ask you a funny question, answer them back by getting them to clarify their own questions. Chances are that in explaining it further, and with your comments, they end up figuring it out themselves.

As for questions that ask about other topics, simply reply that:

a) It is outside the scope of the project and we have not explored it.

b) Our group thinks that this is a great question, though we haven't read about it before. I think it can be considered in further research into this area.

c) In our research so far, we have not found sufficient evidence to support this idea (whether it's true or not doesn't really matter right now).

d) Blah blah blah... because... blah blah blah... (once again the accuracy of your knowledge is of little concern, just look confident).

At the end of the day, however, presentations must still go on. But before heading out to that podium in the middle of a seminar room or lecture hall, it's always best to be prepared. These 3 types of people are always lurking around somewhere.