英語島雜誌

道歉源於希臘語απολογία，即apologia，它是一種用來化解衝突的社交行為。不少人對於開口說「對不起」，感到難以啟齒，因為道歉牽扯到的是更複雜的「人心」，而非單純的「事情」，到底該不該為錯誤再多做解釋，又要怎麼平息對方的怒火，比較以下幾位名人的道歉事件，誰的道歉讓你最有感覺？誰卻讓情況更糟？

道歉的四個關鍵

1. Express remorse: 表示懊悔

2. Accept responsibility: 負起責任

3. Offer to repair the problem: 承諾解決

4. Admission of wrongdoing: 承認錯誤

曾獲奧斯卡金像獎並出演《紙牌屋》中男主角的Kevin Spacey，遭Anthony Rapp指控，表示自己14歲時曾經受到Kevin Spacey的性騷擾，事件發生後Netflix宣佈不會再與他合作。他本人在Twitter上發表道歉聲明中聲稱不記得有這件事，但如果是真的話，他欠Anthony Rapp一個真誠的道歉，並同時公開承認自己的同性戀傾向。

"I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I'm beyond horrified to hear this story. I honestly do not remember the encounter ; it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years."

“This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life. As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. And I choose now to live as a gay man.”

道歉重點

Feign taking responsibility

Making excuses

本文摘錄自一張圖搞懂正式感Vs.隨意感 2018年4月號

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