It has always irritated me when someone tags a phrase like, “Just sayin'” to the end of an inflammatory, mean, or controversial statement. In high school, it was, “my bad,” at the end of a rude joke, and often times these same jokes are followed by “just kidding,” or “LOL” in text speak today.
A statement that softens the blow of another statement is often (although I’ll admit not always) a way for the speaker to deny responsibility for the statement. It’s a way to cover your tracks so you can say something buttheaded, in a way that you don’t suffer the consequences of the statement.
That, in turn, makes it the hearer’s fault if they perceive your statement as mean, because you followed it with “Just kidding” or “Just saying” as if throwing it out in the universe like a piece of trash is ok and you can wash your hands of it.
My thought: accept responsibility for what you say, or don’t say it at all. Own it, otherwise you’re just being a coward, and if you’re afraid to really say that mean, controversial, or harmful thing without one of these defusing phrases, then maybe you shouldn’t say it in the first place.
The Brainy Babe 