h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Your photo of Hacker for this subject was rather fortunate.

It reminded me of Sir Humphrey's advice on this matter (or, to be more accurate , Antony Jay's and Jonathan Lynn's admirable guidelines).

Generally they may be summarized as advice to take one of three methods:

1. Attack the question eg that's a very difficult question .... isn't that rather a generalised question etc.

2. Attack the questioner eg why do you want to know , that's rather personal isn't it etc.

3. Attack the situation eg I'm not sure that's relevant etc.

All of these types of responses will , at least , give you more time to think of a suitably devious answer.

If necessary you can always refuse to answer as , for example from the world of soccer , Beckham and Eriksson did recently when quized on their personal affairs (a poor pun I know - but still amusing).

Nice one! Perhaps also:

4. That's a hugely important question, and we should certainly consider it very carefully blah blah blah...

5. Look! Puppies!

Another one I think comes from Hacker...

"Well, I actually would like to divide that into two different questions." Then think up two questions you don't mind answering (it helps if they are vaguely related to the original question, but this may not be necessary). By the time you've finished the other person will probably be distracted or confused, and if not will start being outraged at the way you dodged the question.