Monday, May 06, 2013

The interviewee

When he told me of stories of how he 'fooled' this guy, and 'won over' that man, I often wonder if I am one of those stories to someone else. After some years in reporting, it becomes second nature to tell when a person is lying, or when he/she is pulling at heart strings, or playing to the media pitch. Lying is a part of the game. Almost everyone exaggerates. Justifies. Withholds. Decorates. You learn to glean motives for these actions. Someone more vulnerable, or desperate for help, or in danger, gets a lot of room. A man or woman in a position of authority gets less leeway.

When I can't know for sure, I tell myself this: Stories are stories, aren't they? Listen.

But sometimes, the idea of being subtly manipulated by an interviewee is so strong that I find myself impossibly torn from the actual words, drawing more meaning and motive than is immediately apparent. Like today, when a long anecdote about A Great Escape from Great Danger involved the projection of innocent eyes. The same kind of innocent eyes I've often seen.
I listen with a filter, but do I still understand? I care still, but do I trust?
I doubt, but do I still believe?
Ah, the interviewee must laugh at how the tables have turned.


2 comments:

Neha Dixit said...

There is some solace in getting manipulated sometimes no? The vulnerabilities are sometimes epiphanic, telling, empowering.

Unknown said...

Your writing's so fresh. Stumbled on to your blog accidentally,and am I thankful or what!!