Non-apology rant.

[onemuseleft]

So, you know what drives me crazy? "I'm sorry you were offended."

Because, um. No. Either you're sorry that you* (general you) OFFENDED me. Or you aren't.

It's like if I punched my roommate (Hi, kahn!) in the face. And she was all "What the fuck?!" And I said, "I'm sorry you got punched in the face."

Does that sound even the slightest bit sincere to anyone? No, it doesn't. Because it isn't.

(Now, if Person A punched my roommate (sorry, kahn!) in the face and I heard about it later when she came home (or, much more likely, after I went to the police station to bail her out of jail for breaking Person A's neck) and I said something like "That's terrible, I'm sorry that happened!" that's sincere. I had no control over her getting punched, so I'm basically saying that I'm sorry she had to experience something so unpleasant.)

But that's not how the phrase is normally used, is it? Most people who say "I'm sorry you were offended" aren't actually sorry they offended anyone. It's a non-apology. They have basically said "Well, I'm sorry you're so fucking oversensitive, GEEZ."

And perhaps I should give people the benefit of the doubt - and for the most part I really do - but you know what? Sometimes it's really obvious exactly what they mean.

And yes, I have been reading sf_drama all night, why do you ask?