What do you think of making your child apologize for bullying... is it valid if they had to read it and it's fake?

[Vesuvius87]

Personally, I'm a believer that an apology has to be sincere, coming from the heart. Otherwise it's meaningless. As a pregnant woman, my job would be to educate, teach and guide my baby boy. I don't like the idea of raising a liar that's forced to issue a forced, fake apology. It means no lesson has been learned other than just being embarrassed and only being sorry you got caught.

What do you think of this father that made his son apologize for bullying, even though the teen doesn't mean anything he's reading in the letter? He doesn't even make eye contact with the girl he bullied, nothing is coming from the heart, he just wants to finish this and he honestly didn't buy the gift. Plus if an apology has to be written and read word for word (forced) instead of saying it in person, what's the use of it?

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This reminded of the time a female bully and I were about to get suspended (7th grade) for fighting. I only hit back once. She issued a fake, crocodile tears apology and fake handshake. She faked a whole friendship for the remaining school year and gave me a fake phone number. I think that really doubles the offense, first for the bullying and second for the lying and faking it.
Honestly, I'd rather get no apology than a forced, fake one.

[NathanDavis]

I would make sure they understand the meaning of it

[Vesuvius87]

yeah it's one thing to understand it and another to just say sorry for the sake of it or because you're forced to without meaning it at all

[Vesuvius87]

Personally I hate fake, forced apologies. I had a bad experience with a former bully that not only faked an apology but also a friendship with me. To me that really doubles the offense.

[DrPepper12]

Teacher here. Agreed. Restorative justice is what's needed through dialogue then action.

[Vesuvius87]

yeah just apologetic words (esp if it's all forced and fake) is worthless.

[MemeSupreme]

oh the kid knows it's all bullshit lol they just want him to stop. that's what matters

[Vesuvius87]

I wouldn't even bother with making them apologize if that were my kid doing the bullying. It wouldn't end just him stopping the bullying but perhaps removing all the privileges he had before, making them work and volunteer at community services programs, etc.

[MemeSupreme]

yeah i don't know about making them apologize either

[Agape93]

Fake apologies mean nothing. Shame them.

[Vesuvius87]

Exactly. Bullies should have actually real consequences other than just being forced to write fake apologetic letters.

[Agape93]

Yeap. If im. bullying a pedophile like forevrlonely29 (that's his dead account, admins, chill tf out), if I apologize I won't mean it in the least. If anything I'll find it funny when he believes the bullshit.