Some of us go through life apologising *bratcat*, I'm one of them, even if I don't see the mistake I've made, I hate the feeling inside that' I've been the one to hurt someone.
I'll always apologise, I can't help it.
You all may see this as a weakness, and it probably is, but if it makes myself and that person feel better for it, then I'm sorry but I'll do it.
Because I never utter a malicious word - I never "mean" to hurt. Hurting is never my intent.
If I do it's out of pur ignorance - and being ignorant I find nothing apologetic about either.
If people don't know me - don't know my sence of humor - and mistakenly interpret something I say to be hurtful - well that's their fault isn't it.
I'm me - I can't help it if you don't know me yet. What? You think I'd be quite until you know me. No way.
But if - I really, really see that I've actually hurt someone by what I've said, seriously hurt them - I might say I'm sorry to help alleviate their pain.
Appologies - other than pure cordiality - are relatively meaningless.
Appoligies won't make your head hurt any less.
And if you knew me - ass you would if we were on a baseball team together - you would know that I hit you by accident - so there would be no need for words.
It's like applogizing for breathing or standing or walking.
Sure, I bump into somebody and I say excuse me - but - it's really quite a waste. It's social habit - but it's not logical.
You've heard me say it before - stupid human tricks - things that actually make no sence.
But we are programme to beleive that they do. Again the Arrogance of the Human Intellect - where upon most all of us who have the ability to think and reason - figure that all that we know and do - is the right thing to do.
But - I know that's not true. We do things - illogical things - out of programming.
I understand what you are saying Sparky (oh my). Accidents are just accidents and if someone knows that you are not nasty or wicked then they will understand that.
However, If I had accidentally hit someone, or whatever, I would genuinely feel sorry that I had harmed someone, albeit unintentionally. If I gave someone a goose egg on their head the day before a special picture I would feel even worse.
I don't think it is societies logic. It is just compassion, I think.
The reason I asked the question is I find it completely illogical to teach young children to say I'm sorry. They are so ego-centric, they don't feel compassion and except for rare occasions they are not genuinely sorry. Instead they get the message that it's okay to hurt someone as long as you say I'm sorry.
MorningGirl, I think it is up to the parent to teach the children in terms they understand what they have done. I question them back. What If I bite you would you like it. I even exaggerate that momentarily by pretending I would actually do it.
I then say to them that they became afraid that I would bite them therefore it is very painful. If they didn't like the pain why would they give that pain to the other child. I know that it is a process but hopefully they will come to understand that as they grow. My older child is very sympathetic teenage girl. I hope it works as well for the younger ones.