by snarly | Nov 20, 2012 | Academic apologies, Apology Essentials, Corporate Apologies, Institutional Apologies, Other Apologies, The Mechanics of Apology
My college roommate, Deborah Levi, was brilliant. (She died of breast cancer at 34.) Her New York University Law Review article on the role of apology in mediation is still cited all over the place (Google it – I’ll wait) and reflects who she was: A person with an...
by sumac | Nov 19, 2012 | Apology Essentials, The Mechanics of Apology
A poisoned apology is an apology wrapped around an insult, like a cupcake with mud filling. People don’t want to accept the apology, because they don’t want to accept the insult that goes with it. “I apologize for kicking you, but you were so damned...
by snarly | Nov 9, 2012 | Celebrity Apologies, Media Apologies, Political Apologies, The Mechanics of Apology
Chris Matthews offered some chipper election-night commentary about Superstorm Sandy: “I’m so glad we had that storm last week!” When his seatmate Rachel Maddow responded with a strangled, “ooh,” Matthews clarified: “No —...
by snarly | Nov 9, 2012 | Political Apologies, The Mechanics of Apology
The ever-delightful Lindy West posted a roundup on Jezebel today of over-the-top peevish responses to the re-election of Barack Obama. One was a letter to Queen Elizabeth, posted on the web site of Free Republic by one Edwin R. Williams: Your Majesty, We, the people...
by snarly | Oct 22, 2012 | Religious Apologies, The Mechanics of Apology
Here’s how you do repentance, according to the 12th-century Jewish sage Maimonides (aka Rambam). You need the following elements: Humility, remorse, forbearance and reparation. Not so coincidentally, the same goes for apologies. Maimo (we’re...
by sumac | Oct 10, 2012 | The Mechanics of Apology
I would like your advice on formulating a proper apology to clients. I’m a veterinarian who was asked to perform a common, permissible procedure on their show animal. There are known risks associated with the procedure, including infection. This is rare, but can...
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