The Meaninglessness of "I'm Sorry."

[Nahum]

Have you ever had someone tell you "I'm sorry" that wasn't? Have you ever had someone say those two words, only to keep doing the very same horrible thing they said they were sorry for?

Sometimes "I'm sorry" just means "forgive me?"

It doesn't really mean that they feel bad for what they did as much as they feel bad they got caught doing wrong.

To me "I'm sorry" should be accompanied by some sort of action greater than just an apology.

The verbal apology should be matched by future acts of contrition.

I don't think any of us believe that repentance only involves words.

Another thing that bugs me is when people hurt other people really, really bad and then make up some line about how they were "just joking."

"Just joking" is cover for "I don't care that I hurt you, and didn't even for a minute consider the implications of my actions and words."

Is it too much to ask that when an apology is made, people should really mean it?

Otherwise just shut up and move on. Your words are meaningless.