As a person who does this, and have seen which other people do it as well, I have found that it doesn’t have to do with me being a tech person, but more along the lines of what personality type I am.
There is a Japanese trait of, while someone is speaking, to periodically say “Hai” (yes), while another person is speaking. This is not meant to disrupt the flow of thought, but to be a polite way of showing that you are paying attention.
Similarly to that cultural trait, when I am saying “Right”, or “Yes”, or whatever it is I’m saying (and I honestly have no idea how many times I do it, it could be one, three, it may be more), it is me showing you that I am paying complete attention to you, that my mind is on what you are talking about – I’m not dismissing you, attempting to disrupt you, or anything – I’m showing you that you have my entire attention at this point in time.
Originally Posted: https://www.quora.com/Conversations-Why-do-tech-people-always-say-right-right-right-when-you-talk-to-them
Originally Posted On: 2016-01-28