so are you saying so should not be at the beginning of a sentence? :P

My tendency is to use "However" which has a similar function to "so"....

However, I don't think it's really that much of a problem... So, let's all just ignore it.

So, you've a problem with this?

I think it's just a reflection of the spoken habit of starting a sentence with a drawn out 'soooo....'  though it's quite common where I live for folk to start a conversation with "and another thing!" even though nobody has said anything for them to add the other thing to.

I think it's become almost a nonsense word akin to 'um'.  We all know not to say 'um' when we speak, maybe we're now using 'so' in place.  It's a nice sharp opening, you have to admit.  Nice presumptive dismissal of earlier topics.

"So, I was coming in to work today..."  Indicates a new story being told.  At least that's how I view it.  Oddly enough, my coworker and I were discussing this earlier as I have a tendancy to message him and start my sentence with 'So,".

"So, about this new call..."

"So, I was talking to the team lead..."

And if I get interrupted by, y'know, work he always asks me for the rest of the 'story'.

There are similar 'starter' words in every language, I suspect.  When I lived in Japan, one of them was 'Sa,".  "Sa, iko?"  "Sa, nanji desu ka?"  

Of course, it might just be because of the company name... "SO"E.  :P

Ele.

I don't think its an east coast thing...everyone has their happits...mine is my 3 dots (...) and starting sentences with 'yeah' lately.

Like I say like every other word and cannot help it even if I try.

I... hmm, alot of sentences begin with I... anyway.

I think its just a matter of someone doing it and then smite those around them. I had a friend who said "and so" every time she said a few words, like she wanted people to catch up on those few words so she didn't lose them in a full sentence.

Mayeb its like they say "Smile, its contagious" =D

So whadda ya trying to say here?