DEAR ABBY: Someone said something to me today that really offended me. I let her know she had hurt my feelings and her response was, "I'm sorry you took what I said the wrong way." (Abby, there was no other way to interpret it!) Essentially, she made it MY fault because I was "too sensitive."
If I said something that hurt someone's feelings, I would simply say, "I apologize. I didn't mean to hurt you." When you try to justify your actions and blame the other person for taking offense there really is no apology forthcoming -- which only makes the situation worse.
Was there a witty comeback to let this person know her lack of an apology did not go unnoticed? -- OFFENDED IN ALBUQUERQUE
DEAR OFFENDED: I wouldn't call it "witty," but it's accurate: "That's right -- blame the victim!"