The art of interruption

[CatWoman]

what does it say when someone constantly and vigorously interrupts another during a conversation?

Is is that he or she has absolutely no interest in what the person is saying?

Or is it a way to throw one off his game, i.e., make him lose his train of thought?

If you saw the Jon Stewert/Chris Wallace "interview", you'll know what I'm talking about.

I find it rude and disrespectful. And I wish Stewert had called him on it.

I think Fox News runs workshops where they train their television personalities the art of constant interruption.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. So true.

Unfortunately, the news media now only consists of tabloid reporting and news interviews and forums are also affected by the tabloid mentality. It's like a circus. Reporters are not what they once were. They no longer research, and they've become conflict-creators so as to entertain, and not to inform.

[pnwmom]

2. It can be rudeness, for sure. It can also be regional.

In some parts of the country, NYC, for example, linguists have found it much more common for people to talk over and interrupt each other -- also to speak more quickly. It can certainly feel overwhelming when you're not used to it. Or even when you are!

[dynasaw]

3. Rampant egotism

We are living in a culture where it's all about I, me and mine. Meaningful exchange is about respect for the other person,
her/his views and his/her humanity. Narcissistic people have no regard for others except where other people serve
their needs. Fox news and television programs simply reinforce a style which says it's o.k. to ramrod your presence and ride roughshod
over other people.

In many interviews if you've noticed interviewers often ask "questions" that are often longer than the responses from their "guests."

[Odin2005]

4. Narcissism.

[leveymg]

5. Chris Wallace has a short attention span, as do most Fox News viewers.

It's a structural flaw - like reading The NY Post, and expecting to get in-depth analysis - it's just impossible there. I don't understand why anyone even grants them interviews or appears on that network.

I agree, Chris Wallace is also rude as hell.

[madmom]

6. My hubby has a friend who interrupts ALL the time. I found a way to make him stop even if just for

that particular conversation. When he interrupts, I let him finish then say "excuse me for talking while you are interrupting" Like I said it works for that particular conversation, I use it quite often on him.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Fear........

They are so afraid that someone will hear what their opponents have to say and actually realize it makes sense that they interrupt and talk over anything they try to say.

They can't let any progressive ideas actually get any real air time.

[yurbud]

8. someone did a good analysis of this method with the O'Reilly Obama interview

If you interrupt, someone can't finish their thought and get their message out.

If it's an articulate opponent that you can't get away with belittling or smearing because the audience has too much respect for them, that's all you're left with as a defense.

That's why Fox News does it when Obama comes on and why they do it when their people go on shows like Stewart. They don't want lefties to score points with the portion of their audience that isn't hardcore righties or see their stars made to look like the fools they are when they go on a show like Stewart.

[Wounded Bear]

9. Like I said......fear......see above. nt

[hlthe2b]

10. I think it varies... among tv pundits, it is clearly a rude tactic...

In social settings, it can be overt egoism, or it can sometimes be nothing more than excitement with respect to a story someone really wants to relay, or it can be frustration among those trying to break previous patterns... I know when I see groups of friends I haven't seen in a long time, it takes virtually no time for the usual patterns to recur, with one or two always the "aggressors" in terms of dominating the discussion and at least one of the group the "sympathy" participant--the one that a member of the group will finally--after much delay--think to ask what it is THEY have been up to.

But, if you are a female who has had to deal with male-dominated workplaces, you may have adopted some rather rude interruption habits--for no other reason than to avoid being totally ignored. It is a fine line for a woman to do that and there ought to be workshops on how to do it effectively.... Women generally are perceived as rude and disrespectful for doing the very same things men get away with. :shrug:

[SoCalDem]

11. Republicans actually DO train their "advocates" to interrupt

A guy on CNN once told about how they train them to interrupt every SEVEN SECONDS..and when it;s "their turn" to speak, they speak fast and never stop when told their time is up..

Eat the clock.... that;s their tried & true method..