26 ms·

I have a theory that the use of "so..." to prefix a statement serves two purposes for the speaker: gives them a few more seconds to form their statement, and i

by patja 12y ago

I have a theory that the use of "so..." to prefix a statement serves two purposes for the speaker: gives them a few more seconds to form their statement, and it also creates a rhetorical beachhead, allowing them to stake a claim in the conversational airspace. This is particularly useful in environments where it can be difficult to get a word in edgewise when others are dominating the space. Unfortunately it becomes a bad habit used to start every other sentence. With that said, I despise it as well, being the adult equivalent of the teen practice of scattering "like" throughout every conversation. What is even worse is when it works its way into the written form though, something you don't see with "like".

vram22 12y ago
Though I agree with the reasons you surmise, I also think "so" is used by some people like chewing gum - as a somewhat meaningless habit that occupies the time or keeps nervousness at bay. Wild theory here. Also, I am chewing gum as I write this :) But not nervous.
- vram22 12y ago
  To people who don't agree - you might want to take a look at pluma's comment in this thread (and the part in it about being nervous): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9364377 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9364377 Also, I don't think downvoting people whose opinions you don't agree with, is a good idea. Rather leave a comment in reply saying why you don't. And yes, I have read the rationalizations for that (downvoting) behavior, in other HN threads. But don't agree with it. Smacks of nervousness (again) to me - nervousness when someone disagrees with your opinion or voices an opinion different from yours. What's there to be nervous of? Opinions are just that - opinions.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]