I simply don&#x27;t get it.<p>There is no sensible reason in using the various patterns -- such as to &quot;<i>start humbly by saying you might be wrong &#x2F; you&#x27;re not sure &#x2F; ...</i>&quot; --  &quot;<i>to dull the edges of an opinion</i>&quot; when the commenter can simply prefix whatever he is saying with &quot;In my opinion, &quot; and be done with it.<p>Why call ourselves intelligent beings and rely on such archaic tricks?<p>*<p>Also, in regards to this pattern being &quot;<i>the root</i>&quot; of a lot of great discourse you have experienced in person (in particular) - what I can say is that I have found such patterns&#x2F; tricks to be only necessary when I&#x27;m feeling even the slightest malice towards the subject matter or the other person (requiring mellowing down the said feeling); in every other case, a straightforward&#x2F; direct stating of the opinion (with little to no adverse feelings involved) has been the most propitious course of action.