The Australian Dictionary of Invisible Culture for Teachers
saying sorry
attitude: some people can think like this (see more)
Many people in Australia think like this:
When someone (e.g. Ruby) knows that someone else (e.g. Alice) can feel something bad because a short time before Ruby did something (e.g. broke Alice's necklace), it is good if Ruby says these words to Alice “I’m sorry.”
It is bad if Ruby doesn’t say something like this.
Note
This is the 'sorry' for apologising, not the 'sorry' to express condolences over something. The key differece for condolences is replacing 'Ruby did something' with 'something bad happened'. Note in particular the fact that Alice 'can' feel something bad, which indicates that the apology should be made whether or not Alice really does feel something bad."Blair ate the last piece of Val's birthday cake. Val wanted to eat it for dessert. Val feels bad because of this. It is good if Blair says 'sorry'. It is bad if Blair doesn't say 'sorry'"
"Tom can't go to Sam's party this weekend. Tom knows Sam can feel something bad because of this. It is good if Tom says 'sorry' to Sam, at the same time as he says 'I can't go to the party'."
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