How you it is crucial. This is why i never, ever ask a negative question. I think its insulting to the person you want to talk to and it creates a bad impression about what youre doing. Youre asking for someones time because you need information that will lead you to a better understanding of your subject. Sometimes you get negative information when you really dont want it and you havent even asked for it, i know, i remember calling a woman to ask her about a Senate Wives Luncheon in honor of the first lady. She said to me, quote, i know why youre calling. You want me to repeat those nasty things that nancy reagan was telling us yesterday about barbara bush. [laughter] actually, all i wanted to find out was how much money the senate wife his raised for mrs. Reagans drug abuse fund. In that telephone call i got more than i asked for and i used every single w