When Bridging is Appropriate

Bridging is ethical in specific situations:

• The question rests on a false premise you need to correct
• A direct answer would expose confidential information
• The question is a distraction from what really matters
• You have more relevant expertise in an adjacent area

It is not appropriate when you simply want to dodge an uncomfortable truth, when the question deserves a direct answer you can give, or when repeated bridging erodes trust. The test is simple: are you serving the conversation or escaping it?