Turn on the radio, go online, watch (if you have the stamina) TV, and count how many times someone being interviewed says, ‘That’s a good question.’
Which means, ‘thank god, I can answer this and show off my erudite knowledge of the market, farming, or reproductive advances in flies. Or I might not even answer it all especially if it’s about housing or Christchurch.
It’s become a matter of honour to say it at least once in every interview. Along with starting nearly every sentence with So.
‘So all I said was take your bloody hand off my bloody gate in the nicest possible way and he took offence. Now I’m a peaceable man…’
‘So why then did you grab your shovel and hit him with it?’
‘So that’s a good question.’
‘So do you have an answer?’
‘That’s a good question. Did I know he was from IRD?’
‘That’s a good question. Did you?’
‘So he shoved a card at me which said IRD but anyone can do that, can’t they?’
‘Good question. So what is the outcome? Technically this was assault wasn’t it?’
‘Now that’s a very good question.’
