Who's Apologizing Now?
Hey, we didn't know Miss Manners was still in business, the way people behave these days. Miss Manners rocks!
Read the column from the 'Gentle Reader' (love that!) about her Lecturing Friend and you'll see why. This is the "It's not my responsibility" era.
It's present with these friends over behavior of a child all the way up to Katrina response (the latest report says one of the biggest problems was that no one took responsibility for taking action).
Here's an excerpt from the letter: "My friend immediately launched into a lecture, dismissing the practice of forcing children to apologize, telling me that it encourages children to develop a false sincerity and teaches them that they can get out of any troublesome situation simply by muttering "sorry."
I don't agree. As I see it, the apology is not the punishment, but a courtesy I would like my daughter to learn to use when she has wronged someone, regardless of how she feels about it.
I listened to my friend's argument without commenting or arguing. She went on to add that while some people force apologies and give time-outs, those methods are ineffective. After all, she has never used them with her boys, the apparent implication being that they are angelic and obedient."
Hah! Miss Manners to the Rescue: (Drop the B*tch!)
Miss Manners urges you to let it go, perhaps re-evaluating your friendship with someone who is not only rude in criticizing you, but who condemns the very notion of behaving well toward others.
