Academia has been good to me so far. For as long as I’ve been a professor, I have tried to speak politely, thoughtfully, and candidly – privately as well publicly. From where I’m sitting, the system treats me quite well.
Perhaps, however, I’ve simply been lucky. Or perhaps the system is swiftly decaying right before my unperceiving eyes.
In case either of these pessimistic scenarios turn out to be correct, I am now making a precommitment. Namely:
I will never apologize for politely saying or writing anything that seems reasonable to me… except under extreme duress.
So if I ever do so apologize, please assume extreme duress.
P.S. If I politely say or write something that seems reasonable to me, but later conclude is false, I will acknowledge and correct my mistake. But as long as one has applied this due diligence, error is not blameworthy and warrants no apology.
READER COMMENTS
Marc
Mar 23 2021 at 9:47am
You have created the cancel canary.
https://threatpost.com/canary-watch-site-launches-to-track-warrant-canaries/110813/
I believe admitting you lost your bet would count as well. Sorry to see this posted.
Alan Goldhammer
Mar 23 2021 at 9:54am
Is this not an example of extreme hubris?
David Henderson
Mar 23 2021 at 10:54am
How so? He has admitted that he makes mistakes and has even said that he will admit them once he learns they are mistakes.
Richard Hanania
Mar 23 2021 at 9:59am
Don’t you need to define “extreme duress” for this to have any meaning? For a lot of academics I get the impression that moving to a smaller office counts, when I think you mean something like hours of torture.
Eric B Rasmusen
Mar 23 2021 at 10:46am
Good idea. Better yet, how about if you use the word “entomology”, we’ll take that as a sign of duress, e.g. “I sincerely am sorry for my March 3 post. Even though it wasn’t about entomology,it showed insensitivity to… “
Phil H
Mar 23 2021 at 1:11pm
This is a bizarre display of fashionable conservative ethics.
What is the point of it? What is the benefit of not apologizing?
Obviously, I read the news. I know why you’re saying it. But what’s the point? Who will it help? If you think that this kind of thing is ethically important, it just demonstrates a loss of grip.
Jon Murphy
Mar 23 2021 at 1:53pm
Is it conservative? That description seems to me to be as much of a head-scratcher a Goldhammer’s claim that it’s hubris. My super-Left aunt often makes the same point: “Sorry is an overused word; it has lost all meaning” she often says.
Bryan is not saying he’s never going to apologize (and, indeed, if you knew him, you’d know he’s a very polite individual). What he is saying is he’ll only apologize for blameworthy behavior: impropriety, impoliteness, etc.
zeke5123
Mar 23 2021 at 3:59pm
How does this coincide with Caplan’s series of posts re: How to Win Friends and Influence People?
Jon Murphy
Mar 23 2021 at 4:05pm
Is there a tension?
zeke5123
Mar 23 2021 at 4:24pm
Didn’t Caplan say something to the effective of always apologize — small cost to you, great win to win friends.
I guess the mode is a bit different (i.e., interpersonal relationships v. career).
Jon Murphy
Mar 23 2021 at 4:43pm
I’ll need to double-check, but as I recall he was saying one ought to be readily willing to admit error.
Philo
Mar 24 2021 at 12:36am
Caplan’s Dale Carnegie discussion concerned apologizing *in private conversation*. Apologizing in private for saying something you really think is true and not inappropriate is telling a little white lie, and will often (usually?) be worthwhile. At worst, the other person will not be mollified, and you can simply cut ties with him. Apologizing in public under similar circumstances is a much more serious lie which, because it is cognized by indefinitely many people, may have widespread bad effects: for example, it may convince neutral observers that what you said really is false or otherwise inappropriate.
Mark Z
Mar 23 2021 at 5:38pm
Apologizing constitutes concession that you did something morally wrong. It’s easy enough to apologize for being gay or Jewish as well, but don’t we agree that people doing so indulges and reaffirms the idea that there’s something wrong with those things, and that’s not worth the tranquility of appeasing someone who expects an apology? I mean, what’s the benefit of apologizing in general (outside of personal relationships)?
BS
Mar 23 2021 at 5:31pm
Was this written under duress?
Aaron Stewart
Mar 25 2021 at 12:10pm
We won’t see Bryan displaying a sari unless he was extremely under dressed. Got it.
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