That's not an apology

[redbird]

I got email from Andrew Porter yesterday. He said he was sorry he had upset cattitude, and if he'd stopped there it might have been all right. No. He said he hadn't had the chance to "explain fully" before Cattitude hung up on him. For values of "explain fully" that consist, not of "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have accused you of being paranoid and tried to pressure you," or even "I'm sorry I upset you," but of "Why did redbird have her gall bladder removed?" I see neither an explanation nor an apology in there.

Then he went on about some old medical problems he'd had; I don't know whether that was somehow supposed to excuse rudeness, or just bid for sympathy. *sigh*

Comments

[athenais.livejournal.com]

I find most people try to establish commonality, clumsily or not, when someone is having difficulty in an area like ill health or feeling shut out or lonely. And it seems there just isn't a good way to say, "I understand. I, too, have had those problems." I don't think I'm a poor communicator, but in this area I may be. I have given up on doing more than listen sympathetically.