Smart Answer...

This is a real example of how people appear to just bullshit their way around tough questions. Whenever they retaliate against the initiator with a barrage of unrelated and very uncontrolled set of questions. It means, (a) they're insecure, (b) they don't know, (c) they want to look good at your the initiator's expense. and (d) they're stalling for some time while they think it over in their heads on the hope they could find an answer to save them

The thing is, in research. There's nothing wrong with saying: "We don't know" or "We need to find out" and sometimes "Theorize" for very tough answers. That's the nature of everything. This is how little children learn and grow. They Ask questions... They try to find out!

The issue isn't who will get to the right answer first. The issue is really knowing and understanding that we sometimes -really- don't know! There's NOTHING wrong in admitting that! In fact, it's the right way to do it. Instead of attacking the person inquiring.