What constitutes an excuse rather than an explanation?

Published on August 31, 2005 By momijiki In Blogging

Foreverserenity has a good discussion going about computer literacy. Link

This blog is somewhat related to that, but mostly to a comment that someone made about a teacher saying (note the attempt at neutral terms here) why watching the movie of Romeo and Juliet was as good as treading he book. I really don't want to discss that issue here as arguements can be made for both sides. I also don't have the background to that comment as it wasn't included in the blog so I don't want to discuss if that blogger was right or wrong.

But the issue made me wonder, what constitutes an explanation instead of an excuse? Is it the tone of voice? The defensiveness of the speaker or the readiness of the listener to accept what is being said?

The issue really made me realize how easily we can dismiss someone's explanation as an excuse if we can't accept what they say.

Or is it becase of implied failure on the part of the person who is giving the explacuse (my new word for a when it is not clear if excuse or explanation is required). Once in a defensive position, is any explanation an automatic excuse?

What are the rules?

Opinions?

Comments

foreverserenity

on Aug 31, 2005

I'm pasting my response to your question from my blog since you asked me there:

"Hmmm let me get back in the moment here....sometimes teachers get evasive instead of giving ligitimate reasons as to why they did something....why didnt' the class read the original book or go see the play as another writer responded....why let them see a movie version that is rated not for viewing by kids of a certain age because of it's context or because the parents might not want them to see it as well and especially given the fact that the teacher knows the movie and the innuendos that might be in it...were the parents notified? And in stating this I don't want everyone to jump at me with "should everything a teacher does at school be told to the parent?" Not as long as it's within the curriculum and is to the benefit of the children I really don't have to know everything. And as long as the teacher can and will use good judgement, no I don't have to know everything they do at school on a daily basis. But in the case of a film what was the intent and why show that particular one? Was there something in that film that would have been very valuable for the kids to learn? Do you see what I'm getting at? While I didn't get the details as to the teacher's response, I've experienced a teachers evasiveness before and that's what I was referring to."

It's long I know. Now going back to your blog here,the following Questions you asked and statements you made:

"what constitutes an explanation instead of an excuse? Is it the tone of voice? The defensiveness of the speaker or the readiness of the listener to accept what is being said?"

Possibly the tone of voice and the defensiveness of teh speaker would definately add to the explanation given or/and what is said. This might make the listener defensive too.

"The issue really made me realize how easily we can dismiss someone's explanation as an excuse if we can't accept what they say."

This is true to some degree I believe. If the person is not giving you a good enough answer or seem evasive or as I said above defensive of course you're going to not want the explanation they're giving. Especially if they're telling you something you can't accept.

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