Starting the answer to a question with "So"

Groucho · August 20, 2014

Bluerover said:
Yup...you've kind of got the idea.

Q. What is your favourite Everton memory?

A. Sooo I was at the Bayern match and it was the greatest experience I ever had as an Evertonian.

Just leave out the f***ing "so"

Can we not pretend that asterisks can make staff blind to swearing?

So, leave out the f'ing.

madkiwi · August 20, 2014

So, is blinding okay?

bol-uk · August 20, 2014

I'm more concerned about the new thing for ending a sentence with "right"

"He was going to fast right"

"This is hard work right"

Far too American, confidence coach type speak for me.

davek · August 20, 2014

OP has a great point. It's pretty annoying to listen to that word as a sentence starter...it's like they started a story off half way through.

Hideous.

NY Times article suggesting it started off from Siicon Valley. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/us/22iht-currents.html?_r=0

toffeestillidie · August 20, 2014

I think this is a much older thing than you all recognize, and I think it definitely spans cultures, if not "So...", it's "Well...", "umm", "uhh", Spanish speakers say "Pues...", these are just terms people use to give their minds an extra second to think after their mouth has started moving. It eases the transition from thought to speech. Don't know how common it is in the UK and can't remember too much from the few times I've visited.

It is a terrible habit though, I taught a public speaking class once and with practice you can get out of the habit of using them, but its very difficult and takes conscious effort.

davek · August 20, 2014

toffeestillidie said:
I think this is a much older thing than you all recognize, and I think it definitely spans cultures, if not "So...", it's "Well...", "umm", "uhh", Spanish speakers say "Pues...", these are just terms people use to give their minds an extra second to think after their mouth has started moving. It eases the transition from thought to speech. Don't know how common it is in the UK and can't remember too much from the few times I've visited.

It is a terrible habit though, I taught a public speaking class once and with practice you can get out of the habit of using them, but its very difficult and takes conscious effort.

Yes, we're all 'guilty' of it. If I had a penny for every time I've started a post on here with 'I think'...

'So' is despicable though. It's a horrible blunt word to begin a sentence with. It tends to sound plaintiff as if its begging you to be tolerant of the content. It's like that 'upspeak' tone of voice in that respect....or when you see reporters giving their propaganda out on the news who dont point a finger when making a point, but proffer a thumb so they dont look too 'threatening'.

A hideous development caused by a neutered media.

COYB · August 20, 2014

be glad your not from Bootle mate, we start
our sentaces with [Poor Language Removed's

ffs

ArtetaMoney · August 20, 2014

I prefer erm as a sentence starter like lid

ically · August 20, 2014

Kudos to the OP on this matter,
I've been getting onto this and it's been getting on my nerves.

Bluerover · August 20, 2014

ically said:
Kudos to the OP on this matter,
I've been getting onto this and it's been getting on my nerves.

Thanks for this. Seeing as this is the Ale House, I just thought I would throw it out for a discussion if anyone was a**ed .......sorry....bothered.

It just seems, to me at least, to have become a regular part of media interviews this year. I never noticed before I heard someone being interviewed on the RTE 7-9am Morning Ireland programme around February. I thought it was a one off but it is everywhere now.

Well maybe just middle aged grumpiness on my part, but it ranks with adolescent "like" and the rising inflection at the end of each sentence (suggesting a question) as per Aussies.

Soooo, time for a nice cold stout from the fridge!!