Why people say "I was wondering if...

[Floratang]

why people say "I was wondering if ...." not "I am wodering if .... "?
Thanks.

[Jamie (K)]

They say both. I think that putting a request or question in the past makes it sound more polite, much as putting it in the conditional would.

"I'm wondering if you'll help me," sounds a little abrupt. It sounds more diplomatic if it is changed to "I was wondering if you would help me."