- Anyone can stand up, say "Point of information!" and ask a short question, or make a short statement; (short = 15 seconds). This is fun!
It's usually a member of the opposing team, but sometimes someone on the floor. (We might, later, be more formal: "On that very point, sir!", or "On a point of information!") - The speaker can accept the interruption, saying "Yes, please" , and letting the questioner speak, before returning to his/her speech. There is NO further dialogue. The questioner must sit down again immediately.
- The speaker can refuse to accept the point of information, saying "No thank you" or "Declined." , and the questioner must sit down (immediately, and without any protest.)
- If several students stand up to make POIs simultaneously, the speaker decides which of them (if any) can speak.
- The speaker will probably answer the POI in a few words or sentences, and should not look at the questioner, but at the audience , and should not indulge in a private discussion (even now speaking to an audience, or to judges, not to the opposing side).
It helps to start the reply by saying "Ladies and gentlemen..." or "Madam Chair..." - Why ask POIs?
It is NOT to add information to the debate;
It is NOT to elicit any genuine information from the speaker; but...
The intention is to knock the speakers off balance, to make them forget their train of thought, or to subject the speaker to ridicule for having said something inane. - What is asked in a point of information?
It can be a clarification.
It can question the facts and ask for a source.
It can be a witty comment, a pun, a reference to something topical, classical or literary.
It can be a short statement giving a source or a fact at variance with the speaker's.
It can be, and often is, a red herring.
It can be sarcastic or ironical, but not personal (ad hominem) and not vituperative or rude. - So as to be fair, no POI is allowed in the first or (in any longer speech) in the last minute .
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