I am curious about why you felt the discussion about minorities was so derailing. Couldn’t you have just said “Yes, that is a problem as well. However, the thing I am working on is...”
If it is any consolation, I have never seen that specific discussion, but in situations I have seen that feel analogous most of the people in the audience are actually more sympathetic to your side than they might appear. Its not like anyone is going to interject with “Well, that was a pointless question.”
I am curious about why you felt the discussion about minorities was so derailing. Couldn’t you have just said “Yes, that is a problem as well. However, the thing I am working on is...”
If it is any consolation, I have never seen that specific discussion, but in situations I have seen that feel analogous most of the people in the audience are actually more sympathetic to your side than they might appear. Its not like anyone is going to interject with “Well, that was a pointless question.”