Ask Strategic Questions
Not every weak claim needs an immediate counterargument. Sometimes the most effective response is a calm, precise question that asks the speaker to explain what they mean, how their claim would actually work, or what evidence supports it. Good questions can expose gaps in reasoning without creating the same defensiveness that direct confrontation often triggers.
This approach is especially useful with misinformation because many false claims rely on vague language, emotionally charged examples, or alarming scenarios that sound persuasive until examined closely. Asking someone to be specific can reveal that the claim is built more on impression than on fact.
This may mean testing whether a dramatic story could actually fit within the legal framework being described. For example, when MP Tamara Jansen described a scenario in which a person with no prior mental health supports sees a psychiatrist for the first time, is told about MAiD, and is then found eligible, a useful response could be: How would the scenario you described meet the requirement that the condition be considered incurable if the person has never had mental health supports before? A question like that forces attention back to the actual criteria rather than the emotional power of the anecdote.
Questions can also be valuable when the person making the claim is unlikely to change their mind. In public conversations, the people watching may matter more. A clear question can help others notice weaknesses, unsupported assumptions, or missing facts they might otherwise overlook.
Questions can also slow the pace of misinformation. Many false narratives depend on rapid emotional reactions. A thoughtful question redirects the conversation toward evidence, definitions, and process.
The goal is not to embarrass people or “win” through cleverness. It is to encourage reflection, clarify what is truly being claimed, and help observers see whether the argument can withstand scrutiny.
Used respectfully, questions can be one of the strongest tools available. They invite people to think rather than simply react.
The Debunking Handbook 2020
https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/debunking-handbook-2020/
Wikipedia – Socratic Method
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method