Appropriate response to a minor, but warranted, apology?

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FMX
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12 Apr 2015, 5:49 pm

Anybody got any advice on how to respond when someone apologises for something they did that was a bit impolite, but minor? I don't want to say stuff like "oh, that's alright" or "no problem at all, don't worry about it", because then they might think "oh, great, I guess I can keep doing it then!" Of course, I'm not talking about something like a person stepping on my foot, where it's obvious that they shouldn't repeat it. I mean scenarios where it's genuinely a bit ambiguous whether I was OK with it or not - and I was not. The message I want to send is something like "it's really not a big deal, but yeah, you shouldn't do it in the future". Any suggestions?


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Kiprobalhato
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12 Apr 2015, 6:13 pm

i know those, usually what i do is flash a quick smile (usually dorky) to attempt to signal i don't hate them for it, though i can't tell if they know i wouldn't want that to be repeated. i can;t remember a time when they've deliberately done it again, then - i'd be a bit more stern of course. probably the more trouble you'd go to apologizing, the more they'd be comfortable with doing it again... :?:

i'd sometimes say 'no worries' in a neutral tone but that could also send the wrong message. but if it was a total stranger i'm not inclined to care much.


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MollyTroubletail
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12 Apr 2015, 6:17 pm

Reply: Thanks for thinking about my feelings! You're a good <friend, neighbour, coworker, whatever>.

This reassures them that you accept their apology and still think well of them.



Autisto
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12 Apr 2015, 6:17 pm

"I can forgive, but cannot forget" - usually get's a laugh



Kiprobalhato
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12 Apr 2015, 6:23 pm

^this!


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Autisto
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12 Apr 2015, 6:34 pm

Kiprobalhato wrote:
^this!


:D


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