Techniques 3.0: The Drama of Vagueness

Subtlety

Subtlety is the art of saying "I'm not sure" without really committing to it. It's a delicate balance of "I'm not really sure" and "I'm just not really going to say." A true master of subtlety can convey a whole range of emotions with just a few carefully crafted words.

For example, "I suppose" is just a fancy way of saying "yeah, maybe," while "um" is a sophisticated way of conveying "I'm not really sure, but I don't want to admit it."

Subtlety in the Modern Era

The Art of Deferring

Deferring is the art of putting off a conversation or task until later, often with great fanfare and much ado. It's a delicate dance of "not now" and "maybe later."

A true master of deferring can spin a conversation around for hours, all while avoiding actually doing anything.

Pretending to Listen: The Next Level of Deferring