In ME1 how do you skip a conversation, but not choose an answer?

Question

I read the subtitles a whole lot faster than the people talk in Mass Effect 1, and I've played the game through once already.

So I'm looking for a way to skip a cutscene without accidentally choosing an answer.

Currently, I'm using Spacebar to skip the dialog; however, since spacebar also selects the dialog option, pressing spacebar one time too many can result in random dialog choices.

Answer 1

No way to do it. The only way is to slowly move the mouse into the neutral part of the wheel. This way most of the time you can skip it without much consequences.

Answer 2

There is a way via a Coalesced.ini mod, for use with Mod Manager. I'm not sure it can be made to work on xbox - but if you have a PC, you can just use the save as option of the mod manager.

This is for PC version, xbox will have a different bind name - just take a peek in the Mod Manager. Note: Each +/- is one line.

[SFXGame.SFXGameModeConversation]  
-Bindings=( Name="SpaceBar",Command="PC_ConvSkip")  
;; This way it won't skip first entry in the next conversation at times and doesn't select  
+Bindings=( Name="SpaceBar",  Command="set BioConversation m_bSkipRequested true | OnRelease set BioConversation m_bSkipRequested false")  
;; If you want to keep this old bind just in case  
+Bindings=( Name="N",Command="PC_ConvSkip")

Answer 3

"...These days it's all big choices and visceral combat..."
You can hear that near one of the shops in the citadel. At a game selling counter if I am not mistaken.
You must make a choice. That is how the game is designed to build up. The idea (DAO has the same "architecture") is that every action you take affects the storyline in tiny ways, thus creating a whole new experience for every gamer, every time they play the game.
Cheers!