War of Contrition
As opposed to a war of attrition, wherein two or more parties wear each other down over a period of time, a war of contrition is a situation where two or more parties won't stop apologising to each other.
Usually this happens because everyone is eager to avoid confrontation but if often leads to further disagreement.
Usually this happens because everyone is eager to avoid confrontation but if often leads to further disagreement.
Motorist #1: Oh, God - I scraped your door with my bumper! Let me pay for that...
Motorist #2: No, no, it's my fault, I shouldn't have parked there.
Motorist #1: Well that's hardly fair, I should have been looking where I was going.
Motorist #2: Look, there's no need to get upset, I've said it's my fault, and I'll deal with it.
Motorist #1: Mate, this was clearly my doing. Let me pay for it.
Motorist #2: Listen here - it's my car, I parked it badly on this corner, I accept full responsibility!
Motorist #1: FINE THEN! *rips wing mirrors off motorist #2's car*
Eyewitness: That was a real war of contrition right there.
Motorist #2: No, no, it's my fault, I shouldn't have parked there.
Motorist #1: Well that's hardly fair, I should have been looking where I was going.
Motorist #2: Look, there's no need to get upset, I've said it's my fault, and I'll deal with it.
Motorist #1: Mate, this was clearly my doing. Let me pay for it.
Motorist #2: Listen here - it's my car, I parked it badly on this corner, I accept full responsibility!
Motorist #1: FINE THEN! *rips wing mirrors off motorist #2's car*
Eyewitness: That was a real war of contrition right there.