Sarah Standing

Standing Room | 14 February 2009

It’s not just politically incorrect toys that need to be hidden in the attic; certain words also need to be junked.

issue 14 February 2009

It’s not just politically incorrect toys that need to be hidden in the attic; certain words also need to be junked.

It’s not just politically incorrect toys that need to be hidden in the attic; certain words also need to be junked. ‘Sorry’ has lost its mojo for me, it’s gone mainstream. It’s one of those words that began life as a covetable Chanel handbag only to end up as a worthless fake flogged on eBay. Saying sorry has become the must-have ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card and is being used with all the insouciance of a patient suffering from the Coprolalia strain of Tourette’s. Everyone’s at it, especially the bankers, and therefore sadly there’s precious little redemption left in the act. It’s been devalued. Apologising is the buzzword of the naughty Noughties. Elton, you got it wrong: sorry no longer seems to be the hardest word.

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