So....

There's a curious manner of answer I first noticed a few years ago. When there is a question and answer, as in a host and guest on a radio or television public affairs program or talk show, the answer to the question often starts with a simple word: "So." It's used as some kind of punctuation, but without emotion. A lead-in to a complex answer, or a simple one.

The guest or interview subject can be young or old, man or woman.


HOST: Is this your first published book?
GUEST: So....

HOST: Do you think society as a whole can be a contributing factor, can be held accountable to some degree, for this ill?
GUEST: So....

HOST: Are the Toronto Maple Leafs doomed to fail every year?
GUEST: So....


Now that I think about it, I have my own story on "so".

ME: Would you like to get down and boogie, tear up the dance floor?
HER: So....no.


So!....

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The above piece was first posted as "So....What's With So?" on December 23, 2017.