You know, the more I hear it--"I SAID I'm sorry", the more I'm now inclined to say "stop bullshitting me."
Saying you're sorry, and then in the course of conversation with the apologee, you find yourself repeating yourself because somehow the apologee does not truly accept the apology, merits a second look.
ARE you sorry? Because IF you're sorry and your victim keeps harping on the affront, you need to SUCK IT UP, keep your mouth shut, nod your head and get the hell out of there. Saying you're sorry alone doesn't cut it nor should you expect it to; the apologee needs to absorb your apology. If after a sufficient amount of time, the apologee still has not absorbed the apology, (and all of this is subject to your apology being sincere), then you need to write off the friendship/relationship as hopelessly damaged. Nothing is worse than constantly being reminded that you suck by the reproachful looks and words that will be your eternity with this person. But in no event should you say "I SAID I was sorry!"
I want to punch people who give me that line; "sorry" is not a silver bullet or whatever the expression is, it is not the "get out of jail free" card its users expect it to be. If you feel the need to say it, then you're just not sorry. Examine this.
