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So why do so many people begin their threads with "So?"

#82
I’ve attended a lot of work meetings where people announce something that you probably won’t like, then END the statement with “so,” example:
“This group will be working 16 hours a day, and you’ll pretty much be an absentee parent moving forward, so…. (pause for groans) Next up…”
Doesn’t really bother me, as my own linguistic abilities have deteriorated with age, as well as my give-a-**** functions, but it’s something I try not to do.
Another one is when a store associate will end an interrogative with “errr,” as in “Did you want the the Pink or Fuschia Daisy Rock, err?”
 
#83
These words can affect the mood, intention, politeness, or can point a conversation in a direction.
Talk to a stand-up comedian about the differences of changing a single vocal tic in a joke. You may end up in a long conversation.
It's obvious when spoken, but can seem pointless in text.
These words can be as useless as 'um', but not always...
Even an 'um' can say a lot.
 
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#85
It’s an affectation.

Kind of like when a politician starts a response to a question with “Listen,….”

Some PR hack probably told them doing that conveys authority. When I hear a politician say “listen”, I’ll do the opposite.

The “so” thing drives me nuts. whenever I hear that now, and especially it’s it followed with a dramatic pause, I’ll interrupt and say “Yes? Please tell me!”
 
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#87
So everyone is starting their sentences with the word "so" these days...

So Here's Why Everyone Is Starting Sentences With The Word 'So'

I've always thought it was a "bridge word", serving the same function as a "bridge phrase". I have an acquaintance that starts many sentences with "Listen" and ends/punctuates the sentence with a pause followed by the word "huh?". He does it frequently enough that I just wait for a "huh?" before responding so I won't be interrupted by it. Yes, it's annoying.
 
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#90
"Hey dad......So, my car is doing this weird thing". If I had a dollar for every time I heard that from my 4 kids, by now I would own the best bass for metal. Now they live anywhere from 250 miles to 3000 miles away and the tide has turned. "So......when you coming to visit, son?"
 
#92
LBS-bass said:
i don't have a problem with IMO, but IMHO is fair game. If you're pointing out that your opinion is humble, you're not being humble.
Click to expand...

I just usually figure when someone makes a statement of something they think is "the best" or such, that it IS their opinion.

I don't have a problem with it, as I say this also, but it does seem superfluous... but it's part of our culture and language. We tend to feel like a statement of our opinions are naked without it.

I've said(written this) many times only to have my opinion challenged anyway, to which I have to point out that I already said IMO(I don't believe I ever used IMHO)

I think we do this to try to avoid having to get in a debate, but some people want to argue so much that this phrase doesn't even register.

Of course this is just my opinion, lol!
 
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#93
jdh3000 said:
I just usually figure when someone makes a statement of something they think is "the best" or such, that it IS their opinion.

I don't have a problem with it, as I say this also, but it does seem superfluous... but it's part of our culture and language. We tend to feel like a statement of our opinions are naked without it.

I've said(written this) many times only to have my opinion challenged anyway, to which I have to point out that I already said IMO(I don't believe I ever used IMHO)

I think we do this to try to avoid having to get in a debate, but some people want to argue so much that this phrase doesn't even register.

Of course this is just my opinion, lol!
Click to expand...
It does seem superfluous, but I think it's a way of softening the conversation to allow for other viewpoints, similar to saying something like "we might disagree here, but..."

There are a few conversations here about conversation, and it's interesting to me how so many people take very different things away from the same phrases.
 
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#95
Harry Shearer did a really funny segment on this topic on his radio show "Le Show". He is irritated by the whole thing, and pokes fun at it. He includes audio snippets of highly respected academics and the like starting all their sentences with 'So'. Really funny. It was a few years ago.
 
#99
Monkey said:
About 15 years ago, I started dating a woman who frequently began sentences with "so". I noticed it every time and it drove me nuts. I ended up marrying her and I now find myself saying it frequently.

Some have mentioned that it is common in educational settings. When we met, my wife and I were both working at a university. I've worked in education in various roles for most of my life and am now a mental health counselor, so perhaps I can use that as an excuse for my verbal tic.
Click to expand...

If you've worked in education most of your life, the wonder is you now are not a mental health counselee.
 
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#100
DirtDog said:
It’s an affectation.

Kind of like when a politician starts a response to a question with “Listen,….”

Some PR hack probably told them doing that conveys authority. When I hear a politician say “listen”, I’ll do the opposite.

The “so” thing drives me nuts. whenever I hear that now, and especially it’s it followed with a dramatic pause, I’ll interrupt and say “Yes? Please tell me!”
Click to expand...

"Let me be clear..."
"It's about ..."
"Transparent"
"At the end of the day..."
 
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