Failing to apologize, when an apology is needed, will break up families.

To apologize when needed takes real strength. And it stops the situation cold.

We all deal with reality as we perceive it, I reckon. Some with a different twist, as it were.

At least in later seasons he got more realistic.

Sure, insincere apologies are generally offered by those who are emotionally weak, but a sincere apology is a sign of good character and moral strength. Of course, a true apology is also a promise of changed (improved) behavior in the future.

buffoon, imo. It's also rwing philosophy.

Not being able to admit when you have done or said something wrong is a sign of weakness.

If you were referring to the political arena, Republicans are insane and their entire agenda is based on PROVEN failed policies.

The majority of politicians are paid shills.

You're apologizing because that's how you keep your friends.

When you are wrong the only option that doesn't tie you up into knots is to admit it and move on. When you are wrong and your "critics", or whoever, know it, then you either show yourself as someone who cares about facts and reality or you show yourself to be an ass and a blowhard.

I know you're talking about political faux outrages and the demands for apology as a a talking point, and I agree that those should be ignored. But in day to day life there is nothing that defuses a situation and restores two people mentally like a real apology. It benefits both the apologee and the apologizer. Apologies and forgiveness are critical social tools, and I'd say that they are severely underutilized in modern life.

I think this is true in politics for the most part, but definitely NOT in your personal life. And there ARE times in political life when an apology is necessary. However, you are correct that Democrats should never apologize to Republicans, because Republicans are sociopaths who see any kind of regret/apology as exactly what you said - exploitable weakness. Republicans absolutely revel in the game of having a fit trying to make a Democrat apologize, and then pointing the finger and saying, "see? See? s/he admitted it! I was right!" It's a ploy Democrats fall for again and again. I have never understood why, it never makes anything better.

I don't care how sorry you are.

Fix it.

Anything worth making amends for is also worth an apology.

When you have wronged someone, a sincere apology is a sign of strength and of confidence in yourself. Insecure people don't apologize because they do think it exposes their weaknesses.

I would apologize to my students if I did something that was wrong. It made an impression because I think it was rare for a teacher to do so. I never pretended I was perfect. That's setting yourself up for failure.

If you are apologizing to the little monster running North Korea, that's probably wrong and will certainly be viewed as a sign of weakness.

If you are apologizing to an ally, friend or family member for a mistake you made, then that is usually the right thing to do.

It is amazing how the culture evolved towards that route. I find it pretty disgusting, but unfortunately that is how they think, and in some ways it works.

No, in many ways it works. It is how marketing goes...

I guess that is why I dislike marketing.

It's interesting you framed apologizing this way. What about apologizing to those with whom you have close relationships, and who mean you no harm? Is it still a sign of weakness?

I will apologize if I feel as if I've acted in a way that doesn't represent who I am, or if my actions have hurt someone else. I do it for me. If the other person doesn't accept it, or sees it as a sign of weakness, that's their problem not mine.