A missed opportunity in closing the underlying divide

[Confuseous]

At its best, socratic questioning is a wonderful technique in guiding someone through an introspective process, ideally to a satisfyingly self-actualised conclusion. But it can also be misused to lead, and even unknowingly intimidate, like in the case of some of the students who were clearly disarmed by the sudden reversal of roles, and by no less a member of a ruling party that has had such an imposing influence on the plight of free speech in this country. When DPM asked one student where she lived, somewhat independently from her question, it prompted the crowd to let out further gasps. Was that not indication enough that there is an element of taboo and fear in the room? How can socratic reasoning, one which requires an egalitarian platform to function effectively, be used in the presence of such trepidation? The only thing it effectively accomplished was to reduce the now rather infamous question, "What do you think?", into a rhetorical one.

We would like to think that there is nothing to fear in speaking up and making our opinions known, that is what any politician here would claim, but is that really the case here?

- http://publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/640-the-underlying-divide