Apologize?

Hate Speech or Offensive Speech or funny Free Speech? 

Majority of people tries to stay within socially acceptable or politically correct boundary. Some enjoy poking fun at establishment. Others chose to be provocative. What set their speech apparent is really whether they offend the people they should care about. Then how to address and make up for the offense, if unintended.

We educate kids and ourselves to apologize when we inconvenience people, from simple things like unintentionally blocked a path in the park to a big oops. However we still see arrogant apology from corporation with virtually pocket as deep as ocean to get hundreds of thousands, if not millions, more upset.

A skit is a skit. People may take it out of context. They may just overheard snippets from third-parties. They may simply not be able to see its entertainment value due to their life experiences, they culture or merely language barriers. How to tell a responsible person or corporation apart? Their approaches and their commitment for the better.

If we were to apologize, we'll

1. Thanks for the people bring to our attention. We offer our sincere apology to everyone being offended. Immediately publish it at least as prominent as the original questioned act aired.

2. Explain that it is our fault we didn't make it easier and enjoyable enough to this group of audience. We were indeed not aware of all the cultural and language nuances. It is inexcusable if we had the resource but chose not.

3. Our commitment to addressing this now and in the future. What rules, procedures, checks and tests we will establish and maintain.

4. Ask the offended people ideas for improvement. Although it is virtually not impossible not to get anyone offended. A large group of otherwise impartial audience are never wrong.

Lastly, a more debatable topic for this Halloween --innocent cool costume or culture caricature? Clearly merchandiser can argue about free speech and their innocence. It is not costume but rather the people, audience and the context they were used that make it either cool or offensive. However PotteryBarn simply chose to apologize and move on. Are they coward or courageous?

Others may chose to dig their heels in and fight to the bitter end, spin their side of stories, insisting that they were the right. In the process they add more bad taste, distrust, and wound to each other, their audiences and bystanders.

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