Questions, comments, and debate

Perhaps its a sign that I've spent too much time in academia, but I really value the Q&A portion of the debate. I've spent some time on the instructor side of the classroom, so I'm aware that having the floor open for questions can make things a little more stressful for the instructor. At the same time, I think that its good for both the instructor and the students, so I definitely wouldn't go without it. A few reasons why:

• Questions engage the audience / students, drawing them into the subject matter.
• Types of questions asked reveal where the audience / students actually are - were certain parts of the argument explained well enough? Did the speaker miss something?
• A lack of openness to questions from the speaker makes their position look weak - if their position is indeed true and logical why are they avoiding questions? If they're able to answer all questions, it makes their position look more solid.
• Speak long enough in front of an audience, and a speaker will probably say something silly or incorrect every once in a while. Having the opportunity to disagree with or clarify their own statements can help them look better (ie. not closed-minded, willing to admit a mistake, able to think).

This applies both to real life and also to the blogging world. I'll have to agree with gullchasedship on this one, who approaches things from a more theological bent.