Depends on the context, but it could be signaling hesitation...
As something we do when we're opening a conversation with someone new...
That's done "under the radar" in English...tentativeness = politeness...when opening a new topic...
DO YOU EVER GO SKIING? ... ever makes it sound casual...spontaneous...
rather than...
DO YOU EVER GO SKIIING? ... sounds very direct, like a demand for information, and can seem rude when you're opening a conversation with someone new...