Say it now, apologize later

Since the social media boom, more and more people in the public eye are releasing statements or going on TV using the lines “I/We are very sorry if our actions and/or comments offended anyone. I/We support {insert group or belief etc. offended}” and then it will go on to speak of how the offender(s) truly respect and believe in the {insert group/cause}and may go on to conclude with a  monetary donation to a nonprofit associated with whatever group or cause supported by the aggrieved.

Recently in what many consider a social media faux-pause, wireless telephone giant AT&T was forced into the position of begging forgiveness. On 9/11/13 someone affiliated with the companies twitter account tweet a picture of a phone and being held up apparently  capturing a picture of the site of the twin towers.(see inset) The image only remained online for about an hour, but the backlash was massive. Immediately calls for boycott of the company, threats to switch to competitor, and those expressing their happiness to be with an alternate provider.

Personally, I do not find the image or its use offensive. I question the use, because I am not surprised that a portion of the population went insane when they heard about it.  To me the picture implied that they had a quality device to capture a memory of visiting such an important site. It is no different than All-State, State Farm, et-al bragging about helpfulness after Katrina or Sandy devastated New Orleans and New York/New Jersey coasts. Is such an image any different than the Budweiser campaign over the summer, you know the one, buy a special edition case and penny or so was donated to a cause.  Not only do such things give relative low percentage to the charity or cause, but often have a relatively low maximum donation when compared to the extra sales and publicity such campaigns produce.

Some may argue that I do not get it because I am not military or because I did not lose anyone close to me on that horrible day. To this I say true, but I have numerous family members who have been heavily decorated members of the military. Also, my brother in law worked for one the government branch with three initials, we never knew his exact location when on duty, so it was a real concern he was in the Pentagon. I listened to my sister’s hysterical worries for hours as we alternated waiting for his call and attempting to reach him on overloaded cell circuits, to find out if he was safe. So no, I lost no one, but I am truly aware of the portion of the angst and distress felt by those who were impacted on a personal basis that day.

My question to you dear reader: Do you find such an image from a corporation offensive? Why or why not? Is this more offensive than the campaigns from a multimillion corporation offering their same product in a “special” package and offering to donate for charity for your purchase?