stonewallingwhich

Stonewallingwhich is a neologism used in informal discourse to describe a particular form of stonewalling that occurs when a speaker is confronted with a question that requires a choice or a specific clarification. The term combines “stonewalling” with the conjunction “which,” signaling that the difficulty lies in addressing a request for selectivity or specificity rather than in the question itself. It is primarily discussed in online discussions and some commentary on communication practices, and it has not become a standard term in formal scholarly literature.

Etymology and usage patterns are that stonewallingwhich arose as a descriptive label in contemporary house of communication analysis, often to highlight how responders avoid direct answers by shifting to broad generalities, redefining the frame, or introducing unrelated considerations. The coinage reflects a focus on the trigger of the evasive behavior—questions that begin with which or that require distinguishing between options—and how such questions tend to prompt deflection rather than resolution.

Typical characteristics include noncommittal or ambiguous phrasing, topic steering, highlighting contextual complexity, or appealing to broader factors instead of choosing a concrete option. An example pattern is a straightforward question like “Which option do you prefer, A or B?” followed by a response that elaborates on multiple factors without making a clear choice.

In practice, stonewallingwhich is related to evasive communication and deflection, and is distinct from outright misinformation or manipulation. It is discussed mainly as a descriptive label for interaction dynamics rather than as a formal theory. See also stonewalling, evasive communication, and nonverbal blocking.