Saying Sorry the Internet Way

Confession, goes the saying, can be very good for the soul. Then there's the idiom that it's never too late to say you're sorry. (Let's just forget, for now at least, that adage about how love means never having to say you're sorry.)

Both situations are often painful and gut wrenching, and typically avoided in most cases, as face-to-face interaction about something you've done something wrong can very often lead to even more emotional behavior.

And pushing out an apology in those situations where you know you're not completely wrong, but when you are ashamed or disappointed in your behavior, isn't a cake walk either. But the Web is making all those circumstances a bit easier for those mortified, a bit shy or just plain too embarrassed to utter those fateful three words.

Playfully tagged OoopsI'm Sorry.com offers people Options, Opportunities, Possibilities and Solutions (OOPS), to deal with the "oops" that happen in life.

The "oops," according to the site, could be anything that goes wrong or is upsetting, and it's pretty hard to argue with the site's overall philosophy: "Life is precious and time goes by too quickly to waste any. No one should spend a minute more than necessary on the "oops."

It's also a handy way to admit you've made a mistake, acknowledge you hurt someone's feelings or acted like a complete idiot without that uncomfortable aspect that comes with a face-to-face confrontation.

Simply, you get to say you're sorry without really taking any responsibility.

OK, yes that kind of thwarts the real goal of an apology. But heck, everyone's been in that situation where you know, deep down, an apology is needed whether it's to keep a friendship, eliminate stress in your workday or get past a hurdle that you know could easily come around, karma-like, and bite you in the posterior.

It's also a place to express some humor ("I'm sorry I poked holes in your condoms," signed Chet) and ask for an apology, just like this goodie related to the character Danielle from the Real Housewives of New Jersey: "You owe me an apology because I looked up your mugshot and now that picture and your crazy eyes haunt me."

As of this morning there were over 1,600 messages, which is also a place for emptying one's soul of transgressions.

For those who don't, or can't, get into church to relate something heavy on their hearts, oopsimsorry.com also works as an online confessional.

So far 503 confessions are posted, ranging from those not completely sorry: "I have to confess...I'm sorry you are such a jerk face," to heartfelt missives: "I'm sorry that I listened to someone who wanted to hurt us and said those things to you."

According to a Newsday report today, Long Island, N.Y., resident Allison Skottof devised the site two years ago after she heard co-workers "ranting" at each other.

The ability to express emotions, and get past emotional challenges in an anonymous fashion is healthy, according to Skottof.

And, let's face it, it's also a heck of a lot easier than meeting over coffee.