"I'm sorry you feel that way" is something only terrible people say, amirite?

Sorry you feel that way.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

Odd that you're assuming that the other person in this scenario must be "expressing their self" and apparently entirely justified in whatever they're feeling.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

I'm sorry you feel that way.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

Yes, like when your sister tells you that you and your other three siblings should all go into the attic while her friends are there.

by Hobart07 2 months ago

It's a non apology apology. Narcissists and abusers love to "apologize" like that.

by Strict-Inspection 2 months ago

It's not really an apology in anything aside from the literal wording. "I'm sorry" is often used as an expression of sympathy as well as for taking responsibility.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

When some tells you haw they feel, and you had nothing to do with their feelings, "I am sorry you feel that way," is appropriate.

by Weak-Feeling 2 months ago

A real apology isn't always due. This is perfect for those situations

by Hollis04 2 months ago

What if the person expressing their feelings is being hostile and they're wrong?

by Schimmelburdett 2 months ago

Or it's a polite way to show empathy while holding your ground and not being persuaded

by Anonymous 2 months ago

This would actually be sympathy, empathy would be the ability to understand or share their feeling

by Anonymous 2 months ago

No sympathy is feeling sorry for their misfortune, empathy is understanding and sharing their feelings which is the case here, without agreeing

by Anonymous 2 months ago

Context is everything

by Anonymous 2 months ago

I think you can genuinely feel that way. Like if someone voiced a feeling and you are sorry they have that feeling. Like when people are sad or feeling bad about themselves. It's is sad

by Greenklocko 2 months ago

I agree 100%. It is this phrasing that has been hijacked and used by narcissists and abusers to abuse right in the open. Cause there isn't enough of that these days.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

It could be worse. They could say "I'm glad you feel that way".

by hayleeconroy 2 months ago

Nah. The I'm sorry you feel that way is a full acknowledgement of their understanding and usually a simple "idc" added to it and sometimes pure malice behind it. Idc what they say. What annoys me about it is that I can't find a single place to work that isn't insanely toxic, unreasonable, abusive, and insane. Cause I'm a really good worker, very fair in my behavior, reasonable in my discourse, and I get stuff done. But alas, times are stupider than they've ever been.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

Some people find a reason to be pissy, hurt, offended, etc for any small reason. They are perpetually negative. "I'm sorry you feel that way" is a great response to their nonsense

by Anonymous 2 months ago

or if you don't actually care. i've said it before when the other person is being unreasonable, very deliberately bc i didn't feel like i needed to apologize for anything

by Anonymous 2 months ago

Agreed. I find it much better to say: I understand you feel that way. Cause that's what you're actually saying. Using the word sorry when you aren't is manipulative.

by Rowan38 2 months ago

Right. Like show a little compassion. I've usually heard it after i told someone I just got royally screwed by bs and this is unfair and should never have happened and that's when they say it. Its like oh ok.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

Just out of curiosity, would you consider "I'm sorry your dog died" to be manipulative? It's an expression of sympathy, but it's not a genuine apology. I generally read "I'm sorry you feel that way" in a similar light of meaning sympathy rather than a true apology.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

Im sure some people are trying to me nice but a lot of people do it to avoid accountability.

by Sigmundgusikows 2 months ago

In certain contexts I agree, for example when my ex was hanging out with this guy and I voiced my concerns, she would always respond with that, adding it's not her fault or problem, but mine. Safe to say she cheated and we ended it. In other contexts however, when it comes from the person that was wronged in a way and retaliates making the first individual feel bad, I think it's fair.

by Hour-Loss6106 2 months ago

Actually I agree with this, only time I've ever had someone say that to me was when my bastard of a father was trying to get custody of me and I wanted nothing to do with him for good reasons.

by schmelerzelma 2 months ago

Not necessarily true, though. Sometimes, somebody's in the wrong. For example, my father is a narcissist and will use his "whoa is me" guilt trips to try to manipulate others into feeling bad for his own, self-inflicted problems. And when he does, I tell him that I'm sorry he feels that way because, honestly, it's really hard to empathize with someone who keeps repeating their same failures and refuses to learn from them.

by Trantowlisa 2 months ago

Not really. Just because you feel that way doesn't mean that I feel that way, or anyone else.

by AverageMiserable7591 2 months ago

Some people try to emotionally guilt trip you by playing the victim and blaming you for something you didn't do. It's something only terrible people do. The best defense against those kinds of attacks is to say I'm sorry you feel that way. That's my go to thing to say when somebody is trying to emotionally manipulate me.

by Think_Afternoon 2 months ago

Do you not think it demonstrates a lack of self-awareness to make such a blanket statement? Ignoring nuance, circumstances, and others' lived experiences in order to generalise seems reductive.

by GlassRutabaga2384 2 months ago

Heal!!! /s

by Anonymous 2 months ago

So what happens when you say it to someone who is clearly talking out their ass? Or refuses to listen to reason?

by CheetahVisible959 2 months ago