This is a way to protect your face, your self-image. After all, no one wants to appear inept or insensitive. It's completely natural to aspire to appear competent and likable, and it's entirely possible to achieve that. Sympathy and competence are both vital to establishing a bond between the speaker and the listener. Whether speaking to a crowd of 1,000 people or to a best friend, a speaker must appear trustworthy if he or she wants to be taken seriously and not secretly scorned for lack of sympathy or disrespect.