"that's interesting"

[Richter]

Huh.  Really?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Prediction:  12 pages of "that's interesting", "huh", "bizarre", etc.

TGRR,
Finds the prospect fascinating.

[LMNO]

I use the word when I'm not sure if what I just heard was a good thing or a bad thing.


"I accidentally the whole thing."

"Interesting... the whole thing?"

[hooplala]

If I say it, I say it like Arte Johnson, and usually mean it, despite the implied mockery.

If I think the person is talking jive, I instead answer with "Mm." Which doesn't really hide my contempt much.

[Storebrand]

If I'm actually interested I'll try to say, "That's interesting" but it comes out, "That's intere...." 

Words don't necessarily make it all the way out of my mouth once I start really thinking about something.  There's also a good possibility I'll walk away to research it while you're still talking.

[themenniss]

'fair point' and 'fair enough' are favorites of mine.

[0]

from now on, i am purposely going to tell people when i find what they are saying to be dull, boring and unimportant. Sure, they'll need some emotional recovery time, but everything scabs over in the end.

[Freeky]

I say "that's interesting" and mean it. Sometimes to switch it up I say "Neat." Which I realize is really lame and sounds like I neither care nor want to listen to any more drivel, but that isn't the case. I'm just not good at conversation.

[0]

maybe if we all just start glazing over and letting our eyes diverge and minds wander, we'll eventually make the point that we're just not interested and they'll all just go away.

[-Kel-]

This thread makes me realize that I'm guilty of using the phrase "that's interesting" both genuinely and as an alternative to nodding and going, "uh-huh." It must confuse the hell out of anyone trying to talk to me.

dito...also at fault for saying "ok" way to much to show that im listening.

[Brotep]

 
English is a tonal language, at least when it comes to saying "interesting".

Prediction:  12 pages of "that's interesting", "huh", "bizarre", etc.

TGRR,
Finds the prospect fascinating.

OSHI-!

And the plot thickens.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I use the word when I'm not sure if what I just heard was a good thing or a bad thing.


"I accidentally the whole thing."

"Interesting... the whole thing?"

I do too! I never really thought about it before, but "Wow, interesting!" is my usual reaction to something that sounds like it might be either great or terrible, because somehow I missed context that would tell me which.

If I'm not interested, my usual reaction is "Really? Huh."

[Jasper]

I utter the 'interesting' phrase, or something like it, to buy myself time, ironically, to think of something interesting to say back.

Also, cool story bro.

[Triple Zero]

I lately more often catch myself doing the opposite when somebody complains about something I don't really care about or they go on about it too long or I didn't really fully listen, I go "oh yeah, I can feel how that must be bad* for you" [*insert appropriate word--I have a Dutch one that nearly always fits, but can't think of an English that carries the exact same meaning].

[0]

wow-wa-wee-wah.