Why do people say sorry?

It feels like they just say it so it will be a window of opportunity to explain and excuse what they have done. I treated you like that because I was overwhelmed, exhausted, I didn't know, wah wah wah eff you eff you eff you.

Sorry, comes out of my mouth when I feel I did something wrong. I had never used that word before a year ago,NEVER. The first time I used it was because I realized he was right about the cost of a dog cage but I convinced him another cage was cheaper. I remember running across the store and repeating sorry, a lot.

Sorry never excuses an action and neither do excuses. It's the actions to repair the damage that say you care. Hopefully they try to help repair the damage done by their actions but you may have to direct them how, if it's even possible.

Sorry is a good word to let someone know you regret what you did... and you did it.

I worked for this guy...he was about 6 foot 10 give or take a metre probably give Christy...

the type of work involved at least 19 F ups a day and this dude...no way!

could never say sorry to this guy though I tried...
(eventually told him to get stuffed but the torture of not being able to apologise....?)


each apology I would cop abuse and make more mistakes.

he told me "if I was really sorry I wouldn't have screwed up!"

...now. how many of us have heard that before...

hope you are doin ok J...

I say "I'm sorry" when I have acted foolishly, or impulsively. However, I find myself saying "I'm sorry" to my boyfriend when *he* should probably be apologizing to me ... yes, yes, I know, this is not a good thing.

I have learned, though that "sorry" and the feeling of contrition are often not enough to repair the damage that has been done, and I have lost a lot of relationships because of my stupid / thoughtless behavior. Sometimes, all the "sorries" in the world are not enough.

I say sorry too often. Especially when I have been ill and I have done something "stupid" A friend of mines gets angry at me for saying sorry as she says she doesn't know if I mean it or if I am just saying it. To be honest I guess I say sorry to "please" people?

I say sorry to express that I feel badly about something I did. Sorry does not excuse nor expect forgiveness. It simply means I feel terrible and will attempt not to do it again.

I used to say "sorry" all the time. For everything: my existence, being seen, speaking, etc.

I have always used the word "sorry?" as in "pardon me...I did not hear you."

Lately, I have been working on saying "sorry!" when I make a social error or something (such as talking over someone, accidentally bumping into someone or inadvertantly turning off the lights when there is someone still in the room). Or for instance on PC when I truly understand someone's pain and want to be supportive.

I reserve "I apologize" for those times I feel I have had a lapse in judgment, made a sincere mistake or if someone calls me out on something and feelings are hurt or there is tension.

I think you're right, Christy, that a lot of people use 'I'm sorry' as an excuse. I also find that a lot of people use it almost to dismiss their actions.
Then there are the people who use it to express their sympathies, or who are genuinely attempt to let someone know they've done something wrong and are going to try to fix their mistake. I appreciate those 'I'm sorry's a lot more.

I agree with almost everyone, sorry does not excuse an action it just lets the person know you regret what you did.

I just personally know it is a word thrown around like the word hello...I mean I accidentally punched my hubby in the face, you know when you are pretending to punch them then stop just before you make contact?? Well I said sorry through my tears of laughter...could I really be that sorry if I was laughing at his hurt face??

When I originally wrote this I was feeling pretty sorry for myself so the original meaning means nothing to me now...but thanks for the responses