Apologies

1. Apologies Brian Krupo, Marcie Fleming, Gina Porcaro, Mike DeGroat, Natalie Brown

2. Different Types • Categorical (Smith 2005) • A corroborated factual record • An acceptance of causal responsibility • Identification of each moral wrong • Shared commitment to violated moral principles • Regret • A performance of the apology • A promise to reform and make reparations • An apology from a person of appropriate standing • Appropriate intentions

3. Intercultural • Institutional ( James 2007) • It is recorded in writing • It names the specific wrongdoing • It accepts responsibility • It states regret • Promises no further occurrences • Does not demand forgiveness • Is not hypocritical or arbitrary

4. NHS Highland Apologies • Medical Centers have received media attention for problems that occurred during the treatment of patients. • NHS Highland made public formal apologies to the families of these patients. • This is an interesting example because it demonstrates an institutional apology at a personal level. • One specific example… • The chief executive of the medical centers made a formal apology. “I offer my personal and unreserved apology and sincere condolences to the family for failing to provide the standards of care they required and the devastating impact this had on their lives. I will continue to lead and support colleagues to ensure, as far as possible, that something like this can not happen again.” • Blatz et al. (2009)- found that certain apologies made by governments left out several apology requirements and instead followed apology guidelines which highlighted six specific elements. • The apology meets requirements defined by Blatz et al. (2009). • After reviewing several public apologies made by NHS, it seems that these elements of the apologies are repeated. It even seems that specific phrases are repeated.

5. “Ford statement a sorry excuse for AN APOLOGY” (glee, 2012) • “Looking back, maybe I could have expressed myself in a different way. To everyone who believes I should have done this differently, I sincerely apologize.” • “If you were so misguided as to be offended by the thing I said/did, then of course I apologize.” • “I never believed there was a conflict of interest because I had nothing to gain.” • “The left wing wants me out of here and they’ll do anything in their power to.”

6. “CIA Director David Petraeus resigns, cites extramarital affair” (Mitchell and Windream) • Apology • “After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair,” Mr. Petraeus said in his statement. “Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours.” • Initial apology • 'I am deeply sorry for the hurt I caused‘ • Apology from e-mail to close friend after allegations of another mistress came forward

7. Reditt Troll ‘Apologizes’ • Michael Brutsch, aka internet troll (troublemaker) Violentacrez, is ‘apologizing’ for some of the forums he posted over the past few years on a social news website called Reddit. • Many of his forums were of the “creepy” and “twisted” variety (for example, he had forums with ‘rape jokes’) • Upon being discovered as the internet troll Violentacrez, Brutsch lost his job as a software programmer and now finds himself ‘apologizing’ for the situation in general.

8. Brutsch: “Reddit encouraged me” (3:21-3:45) • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/19/michael-brutsch-anderson-cooper-360-reddit_n_1983825.html

9. Apology Element Missing: • An acceptance of causal responsibility: Brutsch deflects blame to Reddit, claiming that he was encouraged by internet culture and Reddit to continue to post and create new forums.

10. Brutsch: “Negatively impacted my family” (4:59-5:12) • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/19/michael-brutsch-anderson-cooper-360-reddit_n_1983825.html

11. Apology Element Missing: • Appropriate intentions (apologizing for the ‘right’ reasons): Here Brutsch talks about the negative impact being identified as Violentacrez has had on his family rather than the impact on those who may have been hurt in any way by his behavior.

12. Another Element Missing: • Categorical regret (a desire to ‘undo’ the transgression): Brutsch’s apology lacks any moment of sincere wanting to ‘take it all back’

13. “Norwegian police apologize for deporting Jews to Auschwitz” (Los Angeles Times, 2012) • Background • Norwegian law enforcement personnel apologized for arresting people of Jewish decent over 70 years ago during WWII. While they did not actually do the mass killings, they were the ones responsible for arresting the Jews and sending them to concentration camps.

14. The First Apology • As said by the Norwegian Police Commissioner, Odd Reidar Humlegard: • "Norwegian police officers participated in the arrest and deportation of Jews“ • "It is fitting that I express my regret for the role police played in the arrest and deportation of these completely innocent victims."

15. The Second Apology • Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway, said: • “The murders were unquestionably carried out by the Nazis. But it was Norwegians who carried out the arrests. It was Norwegians who drove the trucks”

16. Comments/criteria The apology contained: Missing: Appropriate intentions Why 70 years later? • Solid facts • Accepted responsibility (to some extent) • Recognized they violated a group of people • Regret expressed • A performance of the apology (remembrance commencements) • Apologies given from two people of high standing • Offered reparations