Sorry But ... No I'm Not!

andy-hughes | 07:38 Wed 24th May 2023 | ChatterBank

33 Answers

One of my pet hates is people who preface their opinion with "Sorry but ..."

Why be sorry?

You have an opinion, you think it's worth sharing, so why undermine your view by apologising for it before you have even given it.

The apex has been ex-MP Nadine Dorries offering her opinion on Philip Schofield.

Ms Dorries has landed a plum gig as a Mail columnist, and i am sure she is paid handsomely to air her views.

If, unlike the rest of us, a national newspaper values her opinions enough to splash them over its pages and pay her to offer them, why on earth is she apologising for said opinions?

She has 'no sympathy for Phillip Schofield ..'

Fair enough, but why on earth does she have to be 'sorry' about it?

If an opinion is worth sharing - and that means from everyone, not just people paid to rant - then the holder should have the courage of their convictions and not be offering mealy-mouthed apologies for saying what they think.

Say it or not, but don't be 'sorry' for saying it.

Good Morning Early Birds

Ring Pull Cans.

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retrocop

So sorry. Your memory appears to be worse than mine and I can give you a few years more than you. This is almost a word for word post you gave us two or more years ago. Sorry but could be the onset of dementia. :-)

andy-hughes

Question Author

O-G - // They are sorry that what they are about to point out may upset the listener, but they feel they need it to be said anyway. It's an empathic issue, not wanting to upset another knowing how it may feel. //

Although I do take your point - I can only repeat my argument -

I would never offer an opinion with the advance advice that someone may be offended, and I am sorry if they are.

If i thought my opinion was going to offend someone, apart from the terminally and professionally offended, who don't count, I would either express it in such a way that I would remove any potential offence, or i would simply keep my view to myself.

To me, the right to offer an opinion without pre-censoring myself on the basis that someone I don't know, for reasons I am unaware of, may possibly be offended, is the right of free speech.

If I feel I want to express an opinion, I am happy to do so, and anyone and everyone is entirely entitled to argue, disagree, take offence, or whatever, and we can discuss it.

But I would never expect anyone to offer me their view, and apologise first in case I don't like it.

That's simply not having the courage of your convictions.

lankeela

'have the courage of their convictions' - the only thing my maths teacher taught me that stuck!

andy-hughes

Question Author

retrocop - // So sorry. Your memory appears to be worse than mine and I can give you a few years more than you. This is almost a word for word post you gave us two or more years ago. Sorry but could be the onset of dementia. :-) //

It's more likely the consequences of an appalling memory which I live with on a daily basis.

With the exception of vast swathes of facts about popular music, for which i have instant recall, i can forget something I was told ten minutes ago.

Not sure it's dementia, I have never been any different.

retrocop

Sorry but you seem to suffer memory lapse. This is almost a word for word post you despatched over two years ago. Has AB membership lapsed that badly over the interim? Sorry, but I would suggest the onset of dementia.

retrocop

lol.Pot calling kettle black here. :-)

jno

there's an excellent word, "sorrynotsorry" (arguably three words,

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sorry%20Not%20Sorry

tomus42

It's just a figure of speech. You probably use a few different ones yourself that other people find equally annoying.

andy-hughes

Question Author

Tomus - Probably, but I'm not a highly paid tabloid columnist doing it!

Hopkirk

How about "to be honest with you ......"

jno

tomus, yes, it's a figure of speech, but it's one where a word is used to mean its exact opposite - or to put it another way, a lie.

andy-hughes

Question Author

Hopkirk - Another one!

And coming up on the rails - "I'm not gonna lie to you ... "

To which the discouraging response should be - "I should bloomin' well hope not!"

jno

andy, at least 100% off topic but I thought this story might entertain you

https://guitar.com/features/guitars-designed-by-ai-inspired-by-film-directors/

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