On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 8:42 AM, Wrecks <[email protected]> wrote: > I remember when my mother made me apologize to my sister for calling > her stupid. I said, "I'm sorry you're stupid."
This has obviously extended past its expiration date, but I see now a possible misunderstanding. I do not disagree with Kevin about how odious false apologies are. Public figures (and husbands) constantly feel compelled to apologize for things they said or did that they are not really sorry for (or at least, do not understand why they should be sorry for them). As a husband I understand the necessity of doing this on occasion if you want to survive, but that does not make it an admirable practice and it is worthy of ridicule. My dispute with Kevin is quite different. In my experience people of good will fairly often say or do something that unintentionally causes real harm to someone else. In such a circumstance I think it is not only justified, polite and, frankly, decent to say "I'm sorry" (even something like "I'm sorry if my big foot or fat ass unintentionally stepped on your toe or shoved that door into your face - I didn't mean it). Kevin apparently believes that love means never having to say your sorry. Which is fine for him - but I don't think it is really plausible to bash someone else when they simply give a polite, decent apology for having unintentionally caused someone else pain. Last week at work I offended someone when I told a story about an encounter with an overweight person (I am not particularly light on the scales myself anymore) and used some unflattering words and images. The point of my story was not really to make a comment about overweight people, I had no intent to hurt the feelings of my fellow overweight people, and I apologized (and it was graciously accepted). The same week I offended someone else when I said that opposition to gay marriage was intolerant, unjust and hateful. I did not apologize to that person, because I had said exactly what I meant and intended to say. I think that is the difference. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ TV or Not TV .... Smart (TV) People on Ice! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
