It seems that I have managed to offend Peter Morville with a “nasty personal attack” in my ASIS&T 2007 Annual Meeting program posted post.
For that I sincerely apologize. Although my comments were snide, I most certainly did not mean to offend him.
I actually have more to say but I will refrain because: (1) my comments might seem to belie my sincerity in apologizing, and (2) I must remember that as librarians we do not tolerate ourselves or others expressing personal opinions.
And if this apology seems insincere, it is not. I am truly sorry for the offense caused. My issue lies in whether I feel it should have caused offense, but that is irrelevant to whether it did.
Pingback: ASIS&T 2007 Annual Meeting program posted
Hmm. I can see apologizing for being overly frank (rude) in your assessment of the value of the guy’s offerings. But this just seems to be a case of hitting the send key without sufficient reflection. If I sent off everything I type without lots of editing, I would have a nasty reputation by now. I am pretty sure everyone thinks initially more brusquely than the manner in which they ultimately convey their thoughts. It’s just politeness to tone down, right?
But the thing that bothers me, really bothers me, about your apology is the part about librarians not having personal opinions. Surely you don’t believe that, and if you don’t, then it casts the whole apology in a sarcastic light. If you do believe it, you’ve silenced one of the most valuable assets you have to offer your patrons, your perspective. Automatons are not what I want in my personal relationships.
So, since you emphasized your sincerity so much, I seem to have to assume you really believe the no opinion thing. Have I missed something in my grad school experience? Was there some rulebook that I didn’t get a copy of? I really haven’t heard this “no personal opinions” thing before and absolutely reject it if it is offered as even good advice let alone a rule.
Hi Georgia.
You are correct. There is no rule book, and if that rule was in it I’d ignore it.
So either I am simply rude and insincere, or we disagree about apologies. Or both, I guess.
I do agree that the simplest (and perhaps best apology) is to just say “Sorry” and mean it.
Well, I do mean it. I am truly sorry that I offended Peter. Offense was not my intention.
Um, isn’t this your personal blog? Write your opinions here and stand by them, my friend. I don’t know this Norville character but I do know you. I’m certain you weren’t the only person to balk at that sticker price…
Hey, ranger. Thanks!
I do think I’ve stuck by my opinion, though, which is perhaps why my apology sounds hollow to some. It is not because I *am* sorry for causing offense. Now, I really have no control over whether someone takes offense or not at my comments. And I still think what I did, although it could have been said better and probably less snidely.
But it is the case that I meant no personal offense to Peter Morville. I think Ambient Findability is lacking in many ways, even while I acknowledge that I am not the prime audience. I also think $300 for a half day seminar at ASIS&T is way too much.
Despite all that I am big enough to say I’m sorry for offending someone.