from you, instead of a reverse apology from me.
recently, so infuriated have i become at the modern world's lack of etiquette and politeness, i have begun reverse apologising.
you've probably done it yourself, quite innocently.
you know the scenario: you go into a store and are told they don't have enough change for you to make your purchase. what do most people do? instead of saying "didn't it occur to you to make sure you had enough change to satisfy all your customers. it's part of running a business like this. why should i be expected to come in with the exact money" we offer a meek apology and return the unpaid for purchase to the shelf, i've even offered to go to the store next door to see if they have change. the apology should be travelling the other way. yet it rarely does.
or: an old lady in the supermarket inadvertently whacks your shin with her walking stick and what do you do? you apologise to her when what you really want to say is "why don't you watch where you're going you stupid old bitch".
i now go out of my way to offer effusive reverse apologies
in the hope that they might stimulate the tiniest wave of recognition from the recipient.
"oh, i'm terribly sorry you kept me waiting".
of course they never do.
i also indulge myself with reverse etiquette.
invariably people rarely thank me for holding a door open
for them so, as they pass, i thank them.
you probably think my actions are petty and small-minded,
and you'd be right.
but i don't care. and i won't apologise for them.
