The above phrase crops up constantly on web boards. Initially I thought it referred to bickering but now I think that was a mistaken view. I now tend to think it means, "anyway" as in the English term to lessen the importance of previous discourse and to focus the audience's attention on the key point. But I'm certainly not sure.

So can anyone confirm that it does not explicitly refer to disagreement, abusing etc? And furthermore is my current view anywhere near the truth?

Thanks

I now tend to think it means, "anyway" as in the English term to lessen the importance of previous discourse and to focus the audience's attention on the key point. But I'm certainly not sure.

This is how my wife uses it too. If there is some other connotation or shade of meaning to it than that, then at least I have not been able to deduct it from conversation.

From one dictionary I saw:

by the way, and the; how about, what about.