[Cinnamontea]

I think HRTs are a sign of indecision -- and of a wish not to appear too intelligent or (worse) confident. The same reason so many young people end a brief, waffling opinion with "So . . ."

[Mrs. Don-o]

True: It's a kind of plea for affirmation: the HRT and the imploring, rising eyebrows. "I hope it's OK for me to say this? Because it's just my opinion?"

[Allegra]

I think HRTs are a sign of indecision -- and of a wish not to appear too intelligent or (worse) confident. The same reason so many young people end a brief, waffling opinion with "So . . ."

I even know middle-aged people who do that and it annoys me to no end. In my experience when someone does that, it's usually a punctuation to some "know-it-all" comment preceding it.