Forced apologies

Kat Timpf

Every time we apologize for something that we don't really think is wrong, especially publicly, we're just adding another nail to the plank that someone is going to be forced to walk off of someday."

Kat Timpf, You Can't Joke About That

In our ultra-sensitive society today, in which everybody perceives themselves as victims, demands for apologies are commonplace. Any joke, any comment, any action that someone finds offensive can lead to a demand for an apology. And many comedians, politicians, commentators, whatever, often quickly offer these apologies, which are then usually ignored. Insincere and forced apologies are not much better than no apologies at all. Such apologies rarely satisfy those who claim offense, and those who supposedly gave offense just appear wimpy. And their careers can be irreparably harmed.

This is what happened to me a number of years ago.

I was editorial page editor of my newspaper in Ohio, One of my tasks was choosing a cartoon to run on the editorial page each day. Sometimes I purchased cartoons from local artists on local issues, but usually I chose from a number of syndicated cartoons.

During a slump in automobile sales, I selected a timely, if not very funny, cartoon showing a car salesman trying to seal a deal with a hesitant customer. The caption read something like, "For an extra $500 I will throw in the entire dealership."

The next day our publisher told my editor to fire me. The latter put his own job on the line and demoted me instead to the copy desk with a big cut in pay. To my mind, the cartoon suggested that it might be an excellent time to get a good deal on a new car, but one or more local car dealers found it offensive and complained to the publisher.

Because I was no longer editorial page editor and did not start on the copy desk until the next day, I left early that day. Unknowingly, I avoided being forced to write an apology for offending car dealers with a lame cartoon. The editor was angry because he had to write it himself. I was pleased, however. I don't know if I could have brought myself to do it.

The incident later drew national attention when it was reported in a magazine. My career never recovered, but of course I received no apology.