I'm Sorry

          These two little words - well, three if you want to be precise - are the ones I miss most in the American culture. It's not that Americans don't apologize but it's certainly a more rare event than in Britain, where people say "Sorry" a lot. (Yes, contracting it even more as Brits do!)
          Didn't hear what someone said? "Sorry" with a questioning inflection will have them repeating it. Someone misdials and reaches you rather than the intended person? "Sorry" from both parties means, "I apologize" and "No problem." The store is out of an advertized item? "Sorry" means, "We apologize for the inconvenience". Your friend is down with the flu? "Sorry" means, "Sorry to hear that you're sick." Had an argument with a friend or colleague? "Sorry" means "Although I haven't changed my position, I apologize for the way in which I stated it."
        Does using it often dilute it? I don't think so. It gives one  a sense of empathy or at least sympathy. It says, "I've been there and done that (or had it done unto me) and I understand." Saying "I'm sorry" shouldn't make us legally libel for anything. Could it be that very fear, in our litigious society, causes us to hear it rarely in the business world and and even infrequently in our personal lives? If that's the case, I'm REALLY sorry!