Surrender
I can’t be the only one who scoffed when that article about the impact of ChatGPT on critical thinking skills came out. It joins the ranks of those filler headlines, like the ones revealing the surprising link between sugar intake and weight gain or the inverse correlation between children’s TV time and physical activity. Still, the message persists everywhere. AI is a tool. AI is here to stay. We are bound to see more instances like that fake summer reading list from Chicago Sun-Times.
I have this theory that ChatGPT may have yet another casualty: the proper apology.
There is something about the experience of taking the time to craft a written apology. It requires one to contemplate the wrongdoing, the learning experience, and offer a way of moving forward. Of course much depends on the gravity of the error, from something as minor as misspelling someone’s name to a grave misconduct causing harm to others. It’s not hard to imagine the cruel, uncaring types, or even less flawed individuals simply failing to find the courage beyond the shame or guilt, to resort to a tool, that would aid them in manufacturing the appearance of contrition. At least something is put forward as a gesture, but if the words came from some technology, would their meaning take root in the guilty person’s mind, their consciousness? Or would there only be relief in having finished an unpleasant task and in considering the matter resolved?
Your Prompt: Recall an instance when you feel you were wronged and never got a proper apology or validation. Write the ideal apology, with the words you want to hear, addressing all points that you feel were unheard.
Quick Tip
Feeling the need to write but short of ideas? Whatever you do, don’t force a new concept to come into being. Forget writing for a while (ha, and you thought this is a writing tip) and find a new experience, from trying a new restaurant or meeting up with a friend you have not seen in a while. It’s the equivalent of opening the windows to air out your mind. Be super observant while out on these experiences. Something good will come.
About Writing Desk
Years ago, I gave up blogging for good. But I changed my mind and here we are. Aside from maintaining a consistent writing practice, my goal is to build a live space outside social media for content that supports the creative process, free of mindless, addictive, and AI-generated distractions.
May your visits here be frequent but brief. The idea is to offer something that will light a spark, not distract from your writing. For this reason, I don’t post Writing Desk on social media. Thanks for stopping by!
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Found Words
“She accepted their congratulations and gratitude, each time wondering which of them was two-faced, which of them had pushed that frown button, each push of that button the pull of a trigger.“
—Dave Eggers, The Circle
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Leah Ranada 