"Well actually" has some interesting dynamics that I haven't quite mastered. For example, my inner voice goes "well actually" all the time, especially when I listen to some skilled socialite acquaintance going off on a funny tangent that keeps everyone entertained. Since puberty, I'm not giving in to "well actually" anymore, it stays firmly in the realm of inner monologue.
But once in a while, when I'm following an entertaining story being told in a social setting, another guy will pop up and say "well, actually..." and people will not stop admiring him or her, they will say repeatedly how smart and how unexpectedly brilliant this person is (even if they just pointed out a very obvious flaw).
So I'm calling bullshit on "well, actually", because it often works when a charismatic person with a huge ego does it. That means the problem is clearly not in the smart-assery of the content, the presentation itself is faulty.
But once in a while, when I'm following an entertaining story being told in a social setting, another guy will pop up and say "well, actually..." and people will not stop admiring him or her, they will say repeatedly how smart and how unexpectedly brilliant this person is (even if they just pointed out a very obvious flaw).
So I'm calling bullshit on "well, actually", because it often works when a charismatic person with a huge ego does it. That means the problem is clearly not in the smart-assery of the content, the presentation itself is faulty.