I Owe Someone an Apology

I owe a person who shall remain – and should have remained anonymous – an apology.

In a quest to fill up space on my blog, I relayed a story using someone that worked at a specific place as an example (“Flirt at Work“).

Trust me when I say that my intentions were wholly noble. I was conveying a story that re-iterated a belief I always held and still do hold despite stories relayed in the comments – that the last thing most people working behind a counter want is to be subjected to unwanted advances. In doing so I used flattery, because that’s what I do. I also thought it’d encourage people who work in the building to go to the place in question, which was just starting up, so I named it.

Unfortunately, in my haste, thoughtlessness, and pig-headedness I didn’t think of how it would affect this person. I thought after the fact that she might get a few comments about it, but honestly thought it was innocent enough. After all, I thought I was mis-remembering her name.

Well, turns out I wasn’t, and I put in a far too much detail about this person who wanted nothing to do with being a jumping off point for a blog post.

So that’s an explanation, maybe. But none of it can or should be counted as a valid excuse. The bottom line is that I was wrong wrong wrong. The reality of the situation is that I didn’t think about the people involved in the story and how it might affect them. I was just too concerned with being coy and precious.

So to that person in question, and all those with whom I became defensive based on not realizing that anonymity did not constitute lack of knowledge of the situation, I express my sincerest apologies. There is no way to reverse the awkwardness and embarrassment I’ve created, otherwise I would. I have gone back and removed all specific references, as little good as that does, and if I knew of or figure out a way to make it up to all the injured parties, you have my guarantee that I would or will do so.

The lesson?

There are times, folks, where being entertaining to many is nowhere near as important as being considerate to one.