What is it with our culture that it has become so fixated on apologies?
A heavily coerced apology isn't worth much: an apology is more meaningful when voluntary (not browbeaten), when the person realizes they have done wrong, and when sincere.
Sincerety isn't the point. The goal is to humiliate the offender.
It's the whole "thought control" thing ... outcome-based education, "hate" crimes, etc. It's not enough for some people to address and (if necessary) punish wrong actions. They have to make sure everyone has the correct feelings.
I don't understand why one would want an apology in such a case but I do believe that if people were to take more responsibility for their mistakes and simply apologize there would be less lawsuits. Instead they get a lawyer and then the lawyer tells them to not admit any fault and then the person who was insulted or harmed by accident gets further upset and gets another lawyer and the cycle escalates and who benefits the most from the resulting animus, the lawyers.
I demand an apology for asking a question that implies there is something wrong with our culture!!!
Yep. It's sorta like asking your significant other if they love you.
If you have to ask them to say it, it sure doesn't mean much.
an apology is moreonly meaningful when voluntary (not browbeaten), when the person realizes they have done wrong, and when sincere.