Why do we apologise a lot?

py2006 · 13-10-2015 07:38PM #1

Have you ever noticed that we (irish people) say the word 'sorry' alot and incorrectly??

Just noticed a guy in restaurant saying "sorry" to waitress in order to get her attention. I find my self saying it when trying to get passed somebody.

Why don't we say "excuse me"? How did it come about? Are we all insecure and afraid to offend?

Full Marx · 13-10-2015 07:38PM

sorry

JohnCleary · 13-10-2015 07:39PM

Don't know, sorry.

RayM · 13-10-2015 07:39PM

I'm afraid I don't know.

Sorry.

For Forks Sake · 13-10-2015 07:40PM

Yeah, sorry about that

basillarkin · 13-10-2015 07:40PM

Apologise for nothing

Links234 · 13-10-2015 07:40PM

Because I correct people who say "alot"

It's a lot. Sorry

Sir Osis of Liver. · 13-10-2015 07:41PM

py2006 wrote: »

Have you ever noticed that we (irish people) say the word 'sorry' alot and incorrectly??

Just noticed a guy in restaurant saying "sorry" to waitress in order to get her attention. I find my self saying it when trying to get passed somebody.

Why don't we say "excuse me"? How did it come about? Are we all insecure and afraid to offend?

Sorry?

Pac1Man · 13-10-2015 07:41PM

It's just a colloquialism. Every place has them.

Edit: ^^^ Everyone rushing to be the first to type the most predictable response.

13-10-2015 07:42PM

Links234 wrote: »

Because I correct people who say "alot"

It's a lot. Sorry

See my sig.

wakka12 · 13-10-2015 07:42PM

People do it in every country not just Ireland

py2006 · 13-10-2015 07:43PM

Haha sorry about this thread

speedboatchase · 13-10-2015 07:43PM

'Alot' is not a word. I'm sorry, but please change that.

Cortina_MK_IV · 13-10-2015 07:43PM

Not any more... It's soz!

Son Of A Vidic · 13-10-2015 07:45PM

py2006 wrote: »

Are we all insecure and afraid to offend?

Nope. It's just a simple little thing called manners, some people have them and some people don't. A display of politeness and manners has nothing to do with meekness or insecurity. But everything to do with just not wanting to be an ignorant prick.

UnitedFan31 · 13-10-2015 07:45PM

It's an Irish thing I think, the same as saying "bye" about 100 times before ending a phone call.

py2006 · 13-10-2015 07:46PM

speedboatchase wrote: »

'Alot' is not a word. I'm sorry, but please change that.

Done, sorry!

Benjamin Beo · 13-10-2015 07:47PM

py2006 wrote: »

Have you ever noticed that we (irish people) say the word 'sorry' alot and incorrectly??

Just noticed a guy in restaurant saying "sorry" to waitress in order to get her attention. I find my self saying it when trying to get passed somebody.

Why don't we say "excuse me"? How did it come about? Are we all insecure and afraid to offend?

The same reason Irish people drink a lot.

Dozen Wicked Words · 13-10-2015 07:48PM

Benjamin Beo wrote: »

The same reason Irish people drink a lot.

Sorry but I don't follow.

Benjamin Beo · 13-10-2015 07:48PM

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Nope. It's just a simple little thing called manners, some people have them and some people don't. A display of politeness and manners has nothing to do with meekness or insecurity. But everything to do with just not wanting to be an ignorant prick.

Saying sorry when it is unnecessary is indeed a sign of insecurity.

whatismyname · 13-10-2015 07:49PM

Sorry you feel that way, OP.

py2006 · 13-10-2015 07:50PM

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Nope. It's just a simple little thing called manners, some people have them and some people don't. A display of politeness and manners has nothing to do with meekness or insecurity. But everything to do with just not wanting to be an ignorant prick.

I think you missed the point

The Backwards Man · 13-10-2015 07:50PM

It's sad, so sad. It's a sad, sad situation.

Allot is a word that people don't use a lot.

mattP · 13-10-2015 07:50PM

Its just another way of being polite
He was disturbing her from whatever she was doing, fairly correct usage Id think
I love a good ole sarcastic "saw-ree" though :P

The_Valeyard · 13-10-2015 07:52PM

Because Jesus is watching.

Reiver · 13-10-2015 07:53PM

Slavery. Colonialism. Nuclear powe

We have alot to say sorry for.

lazybones32 · 13-10-2015 07:56PM

py2006 wrote: »

Have you ever noticed that we (irish people) say the word 'sorry' alot and incorrectly??

Just noticed a guy in restaurant saying "sorry" to waitress in order to get her attention. I find my self saying it when trying to get passed somebody.

Why don't we say "excuse me"? How did it come about? Are we all insecure and afraid to offend?

It's not an apology for interrupting them, it could be classed more as an idiom rather than an incorrect use of the English language, Herr Gruppengrammarfuhrer.

RobertKK · 13-10-2015 08:02PM

Candie wrote: »

See my sig.

Sorry, but I have sigs disabled.

DivingDuck · 13-10-2015 08:04PM

I say sorry when I want to get someone's attention-- as in, "Sorry to disturb you".

Nobody likes being disturbed; it's only fair to apologise for it.

jamesbere · 13-10-2015 08:07PM

Sorry seems to be the hardest word

Niemoj · 13-10-2015 08:14PM

Haven't a clue.

Sorry.

Why do we apologise a lot?

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