Sorry...

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I am very apologetic. Sorry.

I taught my students that in English, to complain in a hotel, restaurant... you have to front the sentence with 'Sorry, but...'

They were AMAZED! This made me think that, yes, they have a point!

Are you too apologetic? Is this a 'quintessentially English' thing? Is it to be admired? Or not? Does it signify a noble stoicism or a rancid cowardice?

Sorry for taking up your time! ;-) Will

― Will, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

New answers

― Will, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't usually prefix statements with sorry but... I just say what I want to say in an understated and extra polite manner. That seems to work OK. I don't think it is a quality to be admired, it is more of a verbal tic or convention rather than meaning anything. Its just a habit isn't it?

― Menelaus Darcy, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

WHy on earth are you teaching foreigners to complain about Britain. Is that, like on week two of the syllabus or something.

(I love to see them going up to the college the next day going SOrry, but Will is a terrible teacher...)

― Pete, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Its preparation for 'weather' in week three.

― Will, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was actually going to start a thread on this topic, oddly enough. See, I really hate it when people apologise to me. Why didn't they just try to avoid pissing me off in the first place, or just do what I told them? Saying 'sorry' just adds insult to injury, plus it's a cop-out.

― dave q, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dave - sorry is not an insult. Now if someone tripped you up and said "Watch where you're going, Cockfamer" that really would be adding insult to injury. Which I believe is week four.

― Pete, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I call it the 'English sorry'. Which is to say you're not, or someone's in your way.

― suzy, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Say it all the time. Am often really sorry (in a minor way, for interrupting, taking up space, bumping into people, but also, in the English way, for them bumping into me). Sometimes it's just phatic. Other times I use it to express sympathy/empathy (they say: She left me and my whole life's in ruins; i say: Sorry), which loads of people hate, thinking you're trying to take responsibility pointlessly for something, but it's really just short for 'I'm sorry things are so bad for you just now'.

― Ellie, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have been known to give dissertations in comparative theology using only "sorry", "thank you" and "if you don't mind...".

― Tim, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ellie rules.

― Mark C, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mark C: It's my feet, isn't it?

― Ellie, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I agree with Mark and, yes, for that very reason =;-D>.

― Kodanshi, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I wouldn't say it starting out. That sounds trite and blunt and almost always precedes an insult or complaint. I might say it at the end of a letter, like "I'm sorry for the trouble these changes will cause; thank you for attending to them." I wouldn't want it to sound like I"d rather they did nothing to fix my complaint, but I wouldn't want to be rude, either.

― Maria, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think that an apology is not a cop-out. Sometimes we say and do things that we don't mean to say and do. I think it is a matter courtesy that not only makes the offended person feel better but makes you feel better as well. I deem the act of apology as admirable. Gale

― Gale Deslongchamps, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.