It is common that politicians, in general, speak in riddles. Throw them a question and they will throw you indirect answers, somewhat spoken in riddles. Sometimes they answer you back with a question too.

So beware. If you are out to interview a politician, rest assured that you will not receive a straight answer, they don’t answer questions. So the big question is why do these politicians don’t answer questions and if they do you receive an indefinite riddle-like answer?

Politicians Value Positive Face Value

Politicians answer the way they do, act the way they do all because it boils down to face value. Gaining a positive face have to do with keeping them from looking bad. On the other hand, a negative face is to maintain one’s own freedom rather as opposed to making an unintentional commitment.

Positive faces are quite superficial. We believe that politicians who can tell their true feelings, no matter what kind of criticism they get, will be favored for their honesty, their natural ability to speak out the truth and this proves effective to the general voting public.

Negative face, on the other hand, is more of a dilemma. Thinking particularly about present-day politics, you will find not many plain straight forward answers. Politicians who show a negative face demonstrate a no reply which can include a number of different ways of not responding.

Politicians Play It Safe

So regardless of the nation, notice all politicians are playing it safe. Avoiding questions that may put them on a negative light. Or answering a question that will not offend another party. There are only but a few who are brave enough to speak what they really feel, very few who are brave enough to face the odds of their honesty.

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines speaks his mind quite freely. Although this is dangerous for a politician taking the stand, Pres. Duterte takes pride in his words and despite his choice of words, people love him for his honesty and his display of true nature. While there are many more who can show their true selves in public, there are quite many who hide behind their fears of being judged of the words they speak out.

Bottom Line

Politicians speak in riddles mainly because they want to save themselves from humiliation if they are caught in their own words or uttered the wrong set of words that may offend another party. They want to play it safe to save their skin and to save them from further issues concerning their personality.