Friday, August 6, 2010

I'm Sorry, I Understand...... Really??

Do you over use the words:


I'm Sorry?


I Understand?


Well, STOP IT!


How many times have you called a Customer Service Department, Human Resource Department, Medical Office, Etc... Only to hear the Words:
"I'm sorry, I totally Understand"...


Do you really? Understand?, Are you really Sorry? More than likely the answer to this is "NO"..


I called my Base Planner, to request 2 days to be relocated to another part of the month. One of the best parts about being a Flight Attendant is the flexibility we have in our jobs ~ Well, not for the month of August! When I explained, that my husband would be arriving on his R&R from Afghanistan & that by moving those two days, I could arrive at the same time, instead of 4 days later, ... She replied:
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I understand"


Really, You do? Your husband is also in Afghanistan, I say to her....


My time off is what it is, I'm not happy about it, but i'll get through this, She has a job to do & I am just Venting!~


I'm just honestly asking, Can we just use I'm sorry & I understand when we really mean it?


I've heard: "I'm sorry, can you fasten your seatbelt?"
Why would we say, I'm sorry in that sentence? You'll be sorrier if you don't fasten your seat belt if we have turbulence.


At DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport) the other day, A passenger walks up to the gate, trying to ask a Flight Attendant a question...(our uniforms all look the same) The Flight Attendant without hesitation holds her hand up & says,
"I'm Sorry, I'm only a Flight Attendant I can't help you"
Whaaaa? ...that is totally unacceptable to me, I'm NOT Sorry I'm a Flight Attendant, I'm proud to be a Flight Attendant... The passenger only wanted to know if there was a Starbucks near!!!! Most Flight Attendants could of easily answered that question. 99.9% of the time, We as Flight Attendants can't answer passengers questions, but don't apologize for being a Flight Attendant!


I heard a lady at the grocery store the other day say: "Oh, I'm sorry, I only have a twenty?".. BE THANKFUL you have a twenty...


A child dies, and her friend says, "Oh, I understand what you are going through"... If you have not had a child die, You can't possibly understand what this grieving parent is going through. You can say "IT SUCKS", You could just sit there & hold their hand... But for the love of God, Stop saying you are Sorry & You Understand!


If you finished reading this, I'd like to Thank You for letting me VENT!!!

5 comments:

Blondie said...

That sucks!!!!

UpUpnAAway said...

You know it!!!!

SkyMommy said...

The fact that people ever use the phrase "I understand" when trying to be sympathetic is beyond me. I try to almost never use it.

Unless someone has been in the *exact same* position they can't understand. Even if they have every person feels and reacts differently.

It is such a bummer that you couldn't get your days switched around. I hope you still get plenty of time with your husband even if it happens a couple days later than it should.

Derek W. said...

I'm sorry you had to rant like this. But I understand.

Fly The Friendly Skies said...

That stinks that you couldn't get those days off, but like you said we are flexible if nothing else. Enjoy that time you do get to spend together!!!

I also hate when people say they understand when they couldn't possibly! I have really tried to not say I am sorry when it's something that is not my fault. (like ground stops) so I always make sure to say "I apologize" but I wouldn't say because I am a flight attendant after it, Silly!

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