Asking a Question

Preparation:

Rehearse asking insightful questions in advance. In particular, seek out questions which lead to vague or discursive answers, since these tend to buy the most time. You can often pick up (steal) excellent time wasting questions from seminars or courses by carefully noting which genuine questions lead to the lengthiest replies. Of course, what you may be witnessing is a time wasting expert already deploying a proven question.

Application:

Ask your question. If you're lucky, you may be in an environment where it is considered polite to kneel and rest your weary legs while receiving your answer.

Pros:

There is a small and unpredictable chance that Asking a Question will lead to the nirvana of time wasting techniques: a lengthy exposition by the instructor at the painful or fatiguing expense of your partner, while you can sit down, relax, and enjoy the show, for whole minutes.
You may even, as a side effect, learn something.

Cons:

Questions have a nasty habit of backfiring, especially if your true intention is suspected. This is particularly true if the question you have just asked is one of those popular time wasting questions that has already been asked by a more talented time waster earlier in the class. Your partner then gets to sit down, relax, and enjoy the show.