To John, a really close friend who died last year. I'd love to see him one more time and say, 'Look, I'm sorry I wasn't around enough during your life.'
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
209 answers answered between 1998 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
On the record
Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.
To my 17-year-old daughter Isabella, whom I described in an interview last year as "keen on maths".
When I was little, this boy would bully my friend and me all the time. One day, on our way home, we held him, put him to the ground and pushed his face full on into this big dog poo, and I’d like to say sorry.
To my kids, for my shortcomings.
The Spice Girls – Mel B, Geri and Emma – who wanted to mark our 20th anniversary, and the fans. It was not something I felt comfortable doing.
To anyone I’ve worked with between 5.30am and 8.30am. I am not a morning person.
Teachers at my school, for being such a smartarse.
To my brother. When he was a small boy, I made him urinate on an electric fence to see if liquid could really transmit electricity.
To strangers. Living in New York, I see individuals every day who are invisible to so many. I want to say sorry that so many of us think their pain and suffering is not our own.
Any sorrys I’ve needed to say have been said already.
To anyone who gets into my car, because it’s such a mess.
My dog, Mr Q, because he has the saddest look when I leave.
To all those whose fleeting interaction with me has fallen short of what they’d hoped; the unwitting recipients of my occasional grumpiness.
My kids, for the jokes. Some of them are pretty bad.
Any writer who thinks I’ve ruined their work in performance.
The trans community because I didn’t use the correct words, but I’ve learned from my mistake.
To Mark Smith, a boy we bullied at primary school. I’ve always felt terrible about it.
I say it a lot to my kids when I’ve lost my temper, and I’ll save up a big one for when they are 18.
I pulled a chair away from a girl who was just about to sit down on our second day of primary school. She farted when she hit the floor and everyone laughed.
Our dog, Snowy. He’s a miniature poodle, and he’s needy and really irritating as a result.
0 answers from members
Nobody has answered this one yet.
More on failure & regret
- What has been your biggest disappointment? 366 answers
- If you could edit your past, what would you change? 203 answers
- What is the worst thing anyone has said to you? 122 answers
- Which moment embarrassed you most? 122 answers
- How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a favourite failure? 69 answers
- What is the hardest thing that has happened to you, and what did you carry out of it? 36 answers