Stop interrupting!

Submitted by Michael Joyce (United States), Apr 24, 2002

Regarding the "debating" tactics of Ibrahim Hooper, Hussein Ibish, Hassan Abdel Rahman and others, I sent the following comments to Fox News after the Pipes -vs- Hooper session on Tuesday, April 23rd at 10:30am CST, that focused on your article:

"When are you folks in the broadcast media going to INSIST that spokespeople for either side in these contentious debates NOT INTERRUPT AND TALK OVER ONE ANOTHER?

It has become standard procedure, especially with pro-Palestinian/Islamist spokesmen (Ibrahim Hooper, Hassan Abdel Rahman, Hussein Ibish and others) to constantly interrupt and speak over other participants with whom they disagree. The exchange today between Mr. Pipes and Mr. Hooper is a classic example. Mr. Pipes NEVER interrupted Mr. Hooper while Mr. Hooper is, apparently, unable to refrain from doing so, even when politely requested to do so over and over and over again. Although I find myself completely unsympathetic to these rude, abrasive liars, their interruptions actually serve their purposes, in my opinion. They simply cause more thoughtful people, like Daniel Pipes, to be UNABLE to speak coherently and reduce the very limited time allowed to make his point.

More than anything, Mr. Hooper and the others simply do NOT want Mr. Pipes to be heard at all. Since they can not INSIST that this happen, they manage it the only way they can.

When you ALLOW them to do so, you are rewarding them with the goal they seek.

You need to insist beforehand, on the air, that NO party interrupt in the way that Mr. Hooper did today. After one or two warnings, indicate that their mic will be turned down after the next warning, then DO IT. Once the "injured" party has completed his thought, then turn the mic back up for the, predictably, nasty response. Continue with that procedure as long as necessary. Maybe these Islamic spokespeople will modify their behavior, maybe not, but it will be their choice and your audience will be allowed to hear their opponent’s views.

This tactic can NOT be allowed to prevail.

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