Ben Brugler: I’ve Ben Thinking...

George: "You can stuff your sorries in a sack!"

Jerry: "I'm not really sure what that means..."

 

Lately it seems like everyone feels they can make amends for whatever it is they do/did by saying 'I'm sorry'.

 

Two examples this week - the Bountygate (stupid name) in New Orleans and Rush Limbaugh's...Slutgate? (We have to add a 'gate' to everything right?)

 

In both cases the parties in question were clearly out of line. Whether you agree with what they did or say isn't the question here. They both did something that was inappropriate...and that they both knew was wrong.

 

Like most people in their situation - people of interest, power - they aren't really sorry about what they did. They are sorry they got caught. So a quick 'I'm sorry' and media tour...we're fine. We're a forgiving society, right? I feel we've been hearing that a lot since the mid-90s when Bill Clinton initatied the 'I'm sorry...' defense.

 

But has it become a modern day version of crying wolf? Does it mean anything? Are we as a society content with the regret? The apology? I think we are. I don't see the Saints season tickets sales taking a hit. I don't see less people listening to Rush Limbaugh (although advertisers are pulling out).

 

Maybe a more interesting question is how will reparations evolve? When will we expect more out of the parties in question? When will 'I'm sorry' actually have meaning again?

 

That being said, I'm sorry I haven't blogged since January. Good to be back.

3/6/2012 10:05:10 PM

Chris McNamara Says:

I agree, 'I'm Sorry' by itself means absolutely nothing. The key is saying 'I'm Sorry' and pairing it with future actions. Michael Vick, for example, apologized for his dog fighting fiasco. Then, he accepted his punishment by the court, donated money to animal groups and then regularly spoke out (and continues to speak out) against dog fighting. I'd say he's been largely forgiven by a majority of society. Sure, there is a large section of society that will never forgive Michael Vick (hence why you don't get into a crisis in the first place), but he's done a fairly good job of repairing his reputation. -

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