I'm after maximal side effects here. I'm not trying to figure out what they know. I'm trying to figure out who they are. That happens when they're unguarded.
Now, I do my level best to make interviews unstressful. I don't think a stressed candidate is going to do their best, or be their best. They're going to be second-guessing their answers.
That's the point of war stories. Every experienced candidate has them. We've all done memorable things in our career, both good and bad. If it sticks with you, the details aren't what matter.
edit: This goes both ways. I expect the war stories to be an exchange, a patter. They should be learning about me and my co-interviewers as well. And, as someone who gets interviewed, if I feel the interview is completely one-sided and not revealing anything about potential colleagues and the working environment, I'm going to hesitate.
This could end up being stressful for both sides. Experienced candidates could/should counter with the same question. I doubt decision made under stress will turn out good.
If someone is so nervous and anxious that they can't just talk shop with a peer and share some war stories without feeling stressed... well, that tells me something very important about them.
Me, I'm always good for that kind of conversation. It's not going to stress me out if they're asking me things like this.
Now, I do my level best to make interviews unstressful. I don't think a stressed candidate is going to do their best, or be their best. They're going to be second-guessing their answers.
That's the point of war stories. Every experienced candidate has them. We've all done memorable things in our career, both good and bad. If it sticks with you, the details aren't what matter.
edit: This goes both ways. I expect the war stories to be an exchange, a patter. They should be learning about me and my co-interviewers as well. And, as someone who gets interviewed, if I feel the interview is completely one-sided and not revealing anything about potential colleagues and the working environment, I'm going to hesitate.