"This guy" power move: video example
This is a good move when someone is making you wierd or personal questions, or being a bit too cheecky, and there is either an audience or someone else around.
Then you can point towards him and say:
This guy
As if to say "isn't he cheeky".
See Trump doing it twice here, in a milder form:
Trump: (points at Letterman) this is a very unusual interview folks
It works first and foremost because you break the pattern of the "he asking, you answering / avoiding".
You avoid answering, plus you draw attention to him being out of line.
By calling in on the people around, you also draw new social boundaries, now it's you and the people around, looking at "this guy" being a bit too fresh.
Since people are always wary of being ostracized, it also works as a good warning shot.
If the people around laugh, it's a double win: that's a strong sign they're on your side.
I used to have a boss who would smile and say 'interesting' with a stop talking shit tone. How about ' that s an interesting question' You can use this if it's a woman attacking where 'this guy' wouldn't work. And normally if you're trying to bring them back to collaboration you d say 'thats a great question' so they should get the point.
Quote from Transitioned on January 20, 2021, 9:28 pmHow about ' that s an interesting question' You can use this if it's a woman attacking where 'this guy' wouldn't work.
Then it would become:
You: (poiting towards her, looking away, with a smile) This lady
I've used it more than once, and sometimes even added:
She's such a power player
The other two options you mention to stall or skirt questions are both good, and I like your former boss' "interesting move" a lot (I'd like to hear the exact tone).