HOW TO: Apologize properly
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 02:53PM A Proper Apology:
1) Sincerely say “I’m sorry” and mean it.
2) Discontinue the _____________ behavior.
(Fill in the blank with one of the following: disrespectful, rude, mean, asinine, offensive, hurftul.)
3) Vow not to repeat said behavior in the future.
For example:
I’m sorry. What I did was disrespectful and I promise I will try harder in the future not to be disrespectful.
Not-so-proper Apology:
1) I know what I did was wrong, BUT don’t be mad at me because I’ve been trying to please people all day. I’m very stressed out.
2) I’m sorry, but you should know better.
3) Geez, I said I was sorry. If you hadn’t done xyz, I wouldn’t have been so ___________________.
(Fill in the blank with one of the following: disrespectful, rude, mean, asinine, offensive, hurful.)
4) I’m sorry for kicking you in the shins, alright?! Why can’t you accept my apology?! I said I was sorry!
(Said while person is still kicking you in the shin.)
5) I’m sorry. I just didn’t think to call you after we changed the plan from being on our way home with your child to deciding to keep her 6 more hours while entering the cell phone dead zone. I don’t understand why you are so upset.
(continue with above 1, 2, 3 and 4.)
That concludes my lesson.
Questions?
Reader Comments (2)
I love those backhanded apologies that are not in any way apologetic. Love the clear illustration and the adverbs you provide to fill in the blanks.
[MommyCosm]
Yeaah...let's just say that I'm not THAT good of a writer to make up the backhanded ones. Wish I could say they were fiction.
Oh, yeah. The backhanded apologies need to be followed up with a backhand to da face! :) Some people...
[Ashlie- MommyCosm]
I would, but you're not allowed to backhand your mother.
Not that I'm admitting that this post is a true story or anything.
You can keep a secret, right;)