As the first of three scheduled presidential debates approaches, we’re about to go through what’s become a quadrennial misconception about how to choose our president: that debates are an especially valuable way of helping the voters make that fateful decision.

Given the tremendous emphasis the media place on this contest, an hour-and-a half-long question-and-answer session supplants months, if not years, of presenting oneself to the public. This year, the buildup of the debates has exploded beyond all reason. For weeks we’ve had breathless report after breathless report about how the candidates are preparing. Each nugget — who’s at the preparation session, who’s playing the role of the opponent? — is treated as Highly Significant Information. For whatever reason, the media have decided that the first of this year’s three planned debates will be the decisive one. (Trump, as is his wont, has introduced some uncertainty into whether he’ll participate in all three.) And let’s face it: A great deal of this excited anticipation arises from the expectation that Trump will put on a good show.

The debates test qualities that have virtually nothing to do with governing. Governing requires thoughtfulness, study, depth, patience, the ability to draw the most useful information out of advisers and arrive at the wisest policy.