I "have issues" with social interaction, as they say. I have serious phone phobia. I hate having to return merchandise because it means a certain kind of interaction. Etc etc etc.
And it appalls me when people think email or texting is sufficient for apologies and mea culpas.
Damn straight its hard looking someone in the face when you have to admit personal responsibility for having fucked up. But that's what adults do. Even with all my anxiety issues, I know the "in person" part is essential. And I find a way to do it that way.
I have occasionally sent email apologies. But only as a supplement to the personal apology. And only when the extent of the fuckup is so big that I feel necessary to add a public accounting of a "written" sort or where I can't logistically make the personal apologies to all.
For example, about nine months ago, I had to make a major apology for systematic fuck ups. I had been the first "vice president of marketing" for an academic organization. As such, I made a lot of bold promises regarding what I was going to do in the 18 months leading up to our first ever conference held on the other side of the Atlantic. Promises which, for a variety of reason, I fell far short on. And tasks which, though said conference was just a few months away, I knew I was simply going to be unable to perform. The other officers and trustees of the organization, however, as they are for most such other academic organization, were literally spread all over the world.
So there was no way I would be able to make the in-person apology until the conference itself, far too late for an admission that was already too late in the making.
So I ended up sending a email to all of those officers and trustees. One that pulled no punches, that stated in detail all of the failed promises.
And then, when the conference finally rolled around in late May, I repeated the apology at the annual trustees meeting and one-on-one with as many of them as I could.
In my job, I get apologies and "explanations" by email all the time. (I don't get texts but that's probably just because I rarely give my cell number out with ranting that is "for emergencies only" and I also try to make a point that I'm technologically well behind the times.) I get them for absences, for late papers, for imminent or missed exams, etc etc.
And I ignore virtually all of them.
Occasionally a student will ask, "did you get my email." And they are then shocked when I told them I don't respond to such emails. And when I remind them that I wrote the same thing on the original course syllabus.
The technologies of the internet have been a godsend in many ways for someone like me. (I've spoken before, and will again, about how important this "virtual" place called PackersHome is to me, e.g.) But there are some things it should not substitute for.
Not for adults.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)