Conversational AE (APPLIED EPISTEMOLOGY)

[Mick Harper]

There is a further AE lesson. [Further, Mick? Dream on.] The family I spend Christmas with always have at least one badly behaved dog, some years more than one. They have never had a well-behaved dog in our joint adult lives.

When I point out that a gentle smack on the snout would solve most of their--and for three days, my--problems, they invariably say, year after year, "How would you like a smack on your snout?"

[Mick Harper]

AE-ist: Will you take responsibility for this current prison early-release furore?
Punter: Certainly not. It is the policy of this Labour government, I'm a Tory MP.
AE-ist: Do you agree its basic cause is the lack of prison places?
Punter: Yes, it would appear so.
AE-ist: Do you agree that is mainly down to previous Tory governments?
Punter: It is the responsibility of governments of all colours over many years.
AE-ist: Do you take responsibility for Tory governments' contribution?
Punter: I couldn't say. It's too complex a matter to work out standing here, on the spot.
AE-ist: You don't feel you have been put 'on the spot'?
Punter: By no means.