Technique: Distract from the issue by focusing on technicalities. Ex. In one of the presidential debates of 2000 Tim Russert focused so heavily on the “rules” of debate that he inadvertently distracted attention from the issue being discussed. So much so that the question was never actually answered by either candidate.. Provide just enough of a distraction to disrupt counter-arguing but not so much that it eliminates the reception of your message.