Underwear Ninja comes with Space Suit: you are? then why am I even talking to you?

Underwear Ninja comes with Space Suit

to blog or not to blog, which is the path a true underwear ninja must take? whichever path it be, it will surely be a rough-hewn one. argyle, possibly.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

you are? then why am I even talking to you?

Can anyone tell me what it means to be sorry? anybody? anybody?
As defined on TheFreeDictionary.com:
1. Feeling or expressing sympathy, pity, or regret
2. Worthless or inferior; paltry
3. Causing sorrow, grief, or misfortune; grievous

just look at that disgraceful first definition. such a pity that the term "i'm sorry" has gotten so much use, that it now means something different from what it is clearly saying. yes, that's right. its time for another ninja rant. this blog has everything to do with the universally accepted bastardization of the word "sorry".

"i'm sorry," when taken to mean what it ACTUALLY means, means "i am worthless and inferior". to put it another way "i am pathetic". what, i think, most people intend to say is "i apologize".

i came to think about why on earth someone would want to say that. that is, how did this phrase become so popular? i'm guessing it came from the days of yore; when serfs bowed to kings and so on. if a peasant did something to displease the king, the king would look for groveling. or at least a keen sense of submission. "i'm sorry" might have been the answer commonly given. as in "please forgive me! i'm sorry! in fact i'm so sorry, i shouldn't even be beaten because its not worth the trouble!" in which case the peasant would reaffirm how lowely he/she is and how obviously it was a mistake. a sorry person would never intentionally do something malicious. they are merely so stupid, puny, careless, and worthless that they are prone do to such things. therefore, you should take pity on such a bumbling savage of a human being. that first definition is, what i think, a miscommunication that has been used for so long and with such esteem that it now means something that it does not.

not only that, but it also admits blame. because even sometimes its used as an expression of sympathy. as in "i'm sorry that happened to you". what we mean to say is "how awful for you". well my point is, why should you be sorry for what happened to me? was it your fault? should i blame you? if you are sorry, then leave and let me confide in someone who is worthy!

now, "i apologize" does NOT admit fault. nor does it in any way imply one's shortcomings in the grand scheme of the human race. it simply means "i regret that that had happened. i wish it could have been different/better". and not only that but it shows you have much more class. after all, you ARE worthy as a person to cause mistakes. we're all human, we all make mistakes sooner or later and most people only grow stronger from them. so that makes us worthy to make mistakes in the first place. to have some pride in yourself and not to cringe/bow/stoop/fall. this my response to someone that i respect telling me "i'm sorry": "oh? i didn't think you were.... how disappointing".

so if there is anything i can impart on people i care about, it is to please have some dignity for yourselves. i don't know anybody close to me who is sorry; its embarrassing to be associated with sorry people. and nobody close to me should be sorry. but we can all be just as kind and meaningful to say "i apologize".

posted by underwear ninja 7:32 PM

3 Comments:

At 11:20 PM EST, Iris Blue said…

I apologize....I'm so sorry! :-)
I tend to say 'My Bad' which is childish, but I work around kids.

Some of the word verifications that you have to type look like space creature names. I have to type 'xltdor'. Strong galactic name.
At 6:59 AM EST, Big Penguin said…

Well, does a dictionary dictate how humans should use words, or does it merely report how words are being used? I bring this point up because dictionaries update themselves every year with new words (podcast was Oxfords word of the year), new slang (aint IS in plenty of dictionaries now), and new definitions for established words. In fact, I recently read an article where the Oxford guys were talking about how they selected words for the dictionary.... it's a bunch of personal choice frankly. They admit that words ARE words....even if not defined in their tomes. I would argue then, that since word definitions are defined by the context in which they are used, "I'm sorry" (however it has evolved) is an acceptable substitute for "I apologize".... afterall, language is a human invention that is constantly evolving.

But since you've blogged so well, I'll think twice about being "Sorry" next time.
At 11:49 AM EST, R the Great said…

Wow...you're getting pretty philosophical lately. Have you always been or am I just noticing since we all blog now?