Irritating So-sayers

[Llew]

Maybe I'm being hypercritical, or perhaps I'm listening to too many soundbites from politicians and PR men on Radio 4, but listening to a few interviews on radio over the last few days, I've noticed these people seem to be increasingly prefacing their answers to interviewers' questions with so, not as in 'so that's how I came to that conclusion', for example, but using it as an irritating and unnecessary beginning to any answer.

I think it seems to have started a few years back by those PR geeks at those temples of geekdom, Microsoft and Apple; at least that's where I first came across this phenomenon, when they were presenting their wares to the public on TV, videos etc.

John Humphrys had a go at these so-sayers a while back here -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9644000/9644002.stm

 

[Topper]

I tend to just to just use the on off button at such times, when something irritates me

 

[archive10]

So, do you not like superfluous starting words?
Well, I don't either, but it's a very old trend...

 

[PaulR]

With you all the way on that one. It's just so annoying (that's OK isn't it?).

 

[rolfw]

First time I noticed it was my Austrian Ski instructor many years ago, She would start off every statement with So.

What irritates me more, is the increasing trend of HRT, high rising terminals, they turn every sentence into a question, as if the speaker isn't quite sure whether you are bright enough to follow their meaning.

 

[rolfw]

LOL, just got an email from Amazon, regarding a recent purchase, it goes "So, Rolf, how did this item meet your expectations?" Although, that is probably a more legitmate use.

 

[Llew]

First time I noticed it was my Austrian Ski instructor many years ago, She would start off every statement with So.

What irritates me more, is the increasing trend of HRT, high rising terminals, they turn every sentence into a question, as if the speaker isn't quite sure whether you are bright enough to follow their meaning.

Aussies have that particular inflection, although N.Irish have always spoken in that way.

 

[Topper]

Aussies have that particular inflection,

I think Aussies should seek medical help for their inflections

 

[bim]

Maybe I'm being hypercritical, or perhaps I'm listening to too many soundbites from politicians and PR men on Radio 4, but listening to a few interviews on radio over the last few days, I've noticed these people seem to be increasingly prefacing their answers to interviewers' questions with so, not as in 'so that's how I came to that conclusion', for example, but using it as an irritating and unnecessary beginning to any answer.

I think it seems to have started a few years back by those PR geeks at those temples of geekdom, Microsoft and Apple; at least that's where I first came across this phenomenon, when they were presenting their wares to the public on TV, videos etc.

John Humphrys had a go at these so-sayers a while back here -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9644000/9644002.stm

Should get Dennis from Grunty Fen on the case - he'd sort it out!! (can anyone remember him?):mad:

 

[Captain Jack]

Aussies have that particular inflection, although N.Irish have always spoken in that way.

So are we talking about Austria or Australia?

 

[2cvbloke]

So, like, you know, whatever? [insert picture of dumb blonde californian woman here]

 

[Lazarus]

Another one is when people talk about "the Beckhams of this world" when they mean "Beckham" (Substitute name of any Sportsman/Celeb etc.)

 

[Riverblue]

OMG, that's like so irritating!

 

[Lazarus]

OMG, that's like so irritating!

"Yeah, no"

 

[pgh13]

So, like, you know, whatever? [insert picture of dumb blonde californian woman here]

Makes note: 'Must listen to Valley Girls by Frank Zappa again.'......Far out!

 

[hexah]

"Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo......."

 

[Captain Jack]

Am I the only one turned on by this? ^

 

[2cvbloke]

Am I the only one turned on by this? ^

Well, she does look like an inflatable doll in that still, so, if you're into that sort of thing I could see why, but, yeah, you are...