Apologies: Sorry Law?
Consider the apology.
Is saying “I’m sorry” out of fashion?
A lost art?
A species so endangered we need a law to protect it?
In other words, saying you’re sorry can’t be used against you later as evidence in civil court. “The goal of the legislation is to encourage sincere apologies,” said the Ontario Attorney General. “Saying sorry for a mistake or wrongdoing is the right thing to do.”
Proponents of the law say the ability to make an apology without legal consequences will help ease hard feelings, resolve disputes, and reduce the number of lengthy, costly lawsuits.
The Apology Act is partly based on the actions of more than 30 states across the U.S. where apology laws have been enacted specifically to make it easier for doctors to say “I’m sorry” instead of “See you in court.” Under those laws, an apology for a medical mistake is inadmissible in court.
Research has found that medical apologies can actually help patients heal and doctors avoid malpractice lawsuits. Both the University of Michigan Health System and the University of Illinois have seen significant drops in malpractice filings since adopting a policy of disclosing medical errors and offering apologies and fair compensation.
Meanwhile, in the greater apology-challenged world, writer Henry Alford has embarked on a policy he calls “reverse etiquette”—supplying a tongue-in-cheek apology when none is forthcoming from an irresponsible offender. After a grocery store clerk dropped Mr. Alford’s apple on the ground, then put it in his bag with nary a word of contrition, Mr. Alford helpfully suggested, “Sorry about that—I really didn’t mean for you to drop that.” The clerk stared, uncomprehending.
“I like to think,” Mr. Alford writes, “that in some instances my behavior, by causing others to wonder what I’m going on about, may help to carry out etiquette’s mandate: to promote empathy.”
Tell us what you think: Do we really need a law in order to take responsibility and apologize? If to err is human and to forgive is divine, why is apologizing so difficult?
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I said I was sorry
I did something wrong, admitted it and said I was sorry. But where did that get me? Did it get me some forgiveness or reconciliation? No, it did not! So is it even worth it? This has brought me down so much, I’m no longer looking forward to Thanksgiving. It was difficult for me to apologize but I put my pride aside and did it anyways because I value her friendship, but she has yet to say anything to me. Once again, is saying you’re sorry even worth it?
G-Rod | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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saying sorry
i think saying sorry is just fine if you had a chance to right your wrong you would do it no questions asked
Taruz Moton | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Saying Sorry!!!
The thing is no a days people don’t think before they talk they just say whatever comes off the top of their head or does whatever they want to do before thinking through it because they were never taught from very small respect of PERSON PLACE AND THING.
For the most part the children today were never taught manners so they really don’t know what is right and wrong because they were never correted enough by their parents and that is a fact.
Carol R Hill | 3 months, 1 week ago
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Mr.
Saying “I AM SORRY” should be part of human life. becouse the truth is anyone that sincery opologies by saying IAM SORRY is doing him/her self a favor by removing the heavy load off himself or her self and from his/her heart. a man who can not say I AM SORRY is at risk of depression and hypertension. a man or woman that says IM AM SORRY wil spend less at the end of the day. say sorry and there will be no Court.
David E. Inyangedo | 3 months ago
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It's Bigger than Sorry
Only just stumbled across this but I absolutely and without reservation believe in being responsible for one’s actions, and that the lack thereof has led to major social detachment vis-a-vis empathy and understanding.
I believe this all started in the ’80’s when young people (me being one of them) were taught through daytime talk shows that they deserved to do what they wanted as long as they themselves were happy. Guilt for one’s actions were a false and controlling emotion used by one’s hypocritical parents who really ahould only be there to help you get to the mall, or the party, or the makeout session, or to give you money for the awesomest clothes. It almost seemed an aggressive pervasive campaign to detach people from their sense of community-, familial- or self-related responsibility.
Faith was also weaned out of the equation, leaving people to turn to extreme experiences in their search for the divine without even knowing what they were searching for, as schools have taken critical thinking out of the mix as well.
I worry for my son’s generation, as well as his child’s, if we even make it that far. I could go on and on about things that happened during the ’80’s that changed our world for the worse, but I will force myself to stop here.
Love thy neigbour as thyself
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you
It’s that simple. It’s that difficult.
Kay | 2 months ago
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Oohhh
What I think that it means that we all need forgiveness
Marissa | 1 month, 2 weeks ago
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haybug | 1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Sorry and who should apoloize
There should be better and stronger laws for takind part in
commiting adultry.
RE: Tiger Woods and Jamie Grubbs
( and this goes for many others – the list would be too long to list them all.)
To think Jamie Grubbs wants Tiger Woods to say he is
sorry.
I think that Jamie Grubbs should apologize to Tiger Woods Wife.
And Tiger should apologize for his behaviour to his wife and his
fans.
She is now claiming he didn’t tell her ..he was married.
Say What !!!
You can’t tell me Jamie Grubbs didn’t know Tiger was married.
As she now claims.!!!
The News Media reported their engagement nation and world wide
and their marriage was in every news paper and magazine and every
TV program and news program..Where was she …under a rock ??
You had to be dead or on another planer not to know Tiger was married and
had two childern. Their pictures were in on every magizne cover, etc
Come on Now Jamie.
Jamie Grubbs owes Tiger Woods Wife and childern a Big apology.
She claims she was hurt…and wants an apology…what a joke.
She is the one who owes the apology. She is a big part of the wrong
doing.!!! Wake Up Jamie…own up to your wrong doing and say you are
sorry to Tigers Wife and Childern…and go on with you sad life.
Try to get a man who is not married this time.
Judes | 1 month ago
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this is my story
how would you say sorry for something if a person atacked you?
Anna Chang | 1 month ago
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Why is sorry so hard
Why is sorry so hard
wfcastro | 3 weeks, 4 days ago
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