Maybe? Kind of? Possibly? Sort of? Probably?

I believe that you do this on purpose. Save the hard ones for Friday afternoons People are often scared when asked for an opinion and try to not commit themselves to one thing as they want to appear open to other suggestions. If that doesn't make sense then blame it on my Irish blood It is all of what you suggest. I have worked so hard to day to make up for the time i should have worked and was on Mylot. Multi tasking no less which does not come easy to me. So now it is time to go home to don and daughter and I come here to see what my friends are up to and what do I find? Hard questions that my sleep deprived brain cannot handle. Stop! What Is that yo are doing with your wet noodle?

Hi Dawn, I think when I use those statements it is a habit thing. I don't like to be too forward with stuff, especially if I am not 100% about things. Like with this my first attempt stated 'I am not sure if I use these statements, I probably do...' at which point I started again knowing that I did indeed use those statements lol. I wasn't really aware of that before now, I think my worst is 'though', but I don't know if it is a good or a bad thing to be using that everywhere lol! But yea if this is me it is either because I am not sure about things, or I am not confident in something. Away from mylot if you make plans with me I am a 'definitely' person. I do planning and such things really easily, opinions, not so much! All the best, Dranz

When the kids were growing up I used maybe when I mean maybe.....that meant I had to think things over before making a decision.....as far as like sort of....well to me that means not with a whole heart....like I sort of like spinach....means that it's okay but not a favorite.....Probably.....well I take that as meaning with best intentions.....I don't think its to downplay things....it leaves an opening to change a mind or opinion.

It could probably be some kind of insecurity indeed possibly and maybe that is some sort of fear of committing... I think I don't play with things up or down

Hi dawnald, I really get mad when people come out with these words, 'sort of' comes uo far too often and it just aggravates me, I had to ask 'sort of wha? its either it is or not, not sort of? or why can't they just say they don't know. Tamara

I do know what you mean as when i ask people if thet want something like food in this house or a drink they say if you want or kind of.Then you ask them what they want they then say what ever or dont mind.Now all i wanted was a proper answer but you naver get it.

Yes to all the above. If someone questions me and pushes for an opinion on a subject which I know very little about, I will hedge, fudge, guess and bulldust my way through. Unless Of course I can say, "I don't really have an opinion on that" and that would make me look and feel like a fool and be embaressed..

I use those words a lot. If your question is a multiple choice question, I go with "B" Fear of committing. I also just don't see things in "black and white" and I'm far too well aware of the uncertainty of life, I guess. I don't want to come across as a liar by saying "I will be there for sure" so, instead I say stuff like "I will try to be there", or "I'll plan on being there". I guess it's kind of like having a little "disclaimer" worked in to your commitments, or opinions. I'm very much a "on the fence" type of person on a lot of issues. I just can't help but see the validity of both sides of the argument on many issues.

For me, it's like giving a nice, soft edge to things. Not being too argumentative, and not being particularly soft. Just in between. The phrases maybe, kind of and the others are like creme of the top. They give a certain kind of I tell you as it is, but you don't have to agree or believe in it kind of thing. Also those phrases give a touch of non-violence like I could be right, but I could be wrong, but I still need to voice out. That's what I think. Maybe. Perhaps..

Well.... the 'probably' sticks out to me. If someone asks my opinion framed in this way like 'if you were in my shoes, what would you do?', I DO use the word probably because sometimes I have NEVER been in their shoes, not exactly. Situations can often be similar but never absolutely. For example, recently my best friend asked me if I were in her shoes, what would I do. I know what she meant because in this specific situation, she meant would I leave my son on his birthday to go do something that might take all day. Her son was four. The reason she asked me was because a couple years ago, I was invited to something with some girl friends and it was even going to be at no cost to me and I'd have had someone to ride with but it was on my daughter's birthday, and she was turning three. *I* chose not to and I turned down the invitation. HOWEVER! Although she is my best friend, she and I differ in a few significant ways. I had to tell her that what I would do might not be the best choice for her. I actually told her that if she were going to feel guilty the whole day, even if her son didn't care - that it might be ruined for her. She was also concerned about too much rushing around, because she has three kids. I only have one little one, so it wouldn't have been such an issue for me. With the kids I often say 'we'll see' meaning play it by ear. I have a hard time committing to things with them sometimes BECAUSE situations change so frequently AND I don't want to promise or commit to anything that I can't actually follow through on. That is not fair for me to promise something I cannot fulfill, nor is it fair to the kids for me to promise them something and then go back on it. Now normally when asked my opinion I have a clear cut response, but I do use non-committal words when I have to - when I don't have an experience to draw from.

It's probably because they don't know what the heck they are talking about but they are still trying to impress u.

I think that they are probably comments made out of habit firstly and secondly it could be a kind of fear of committing to a certain statement. It is a way of sort of not taking responsibility for the statement; maybe?... Not sure…

Maybe it's kind of possibly like sort of probably true Sounds like you need a brownie

Hello my friend These are words I try no to use unless I have some serious reservations, which is usually something that does not happen often,I tend to tell it like it is, people don't like this but oh well, these words leave doubts in people minds and I don't like people to doubt me my words mean alot to me, take it or leave it. Thank you.

Maybe it's insecurity, or kind of like fear of committing, Possibly downplaying as well, sort of anyway. Probably just not knowing what to say. So what's up Dawn? How've ya been? Sorta missed you but I'm fearful of committing and need to downplay the insecurity I feel when I don't see you much.

I believe there could be many different reasons for people doing that. But the reason i do it is usually just habit. You use words so much that you can make it a habit.