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| [b] Perspective RF |
The debate just concluded, and there was nary a zinger to be seen. Only the craftiest observer could perceive even the slightest version of one (one each, I would say). This is to the very great credit of both the challenger and the incumbent. Zingers need to be crafted to potential situations, and the strongest debaters err on the side of not using them. One well-chosen (and well-timed) statement can move electoral mountains, but a mistimed or disastrously ill-chosen one can make a person look so profoundly inauthentic as to rival the worst candidates ever to run for office.
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| [b] Credit RF |
Advantage: frontal cortex.
To the challenger's great frontal cortical credit, he thought at least twice before zinging. There is a good deal to be said for ninety minutes of eighty-percent-plus effort (as in a Tour de France time trial) as opposed to a ninety-nine percent sprint to a zinger-style opening and great gaps the rest of the way. I "hinted" (pretty broadly) yesterday that zingers won't work if everyone is expecting them. Once the cat was out of the bag (so to speak), the biggest challenge for the challenger was to think so carefully about using one as to be absolutely sure it would gain traction. If you recall the introduction to this series, Confucius once said (when told that someone always "thought thrice" before making a decision) that "twice was quite enough." Yes, 孔子, that might well be true before your intention to use zingers was leaked to the press. Now that it has been (imagine that you are the Republican challenger...yesterday) the ante has been raised. You need to think thrice.
He did. And the beat goes on.
We have the philosophy of history in store for us tomorrow.
For the other segment of this two-part mini-series, click below:
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| [c] Zing RF |
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