Ethical Dilemmas and Unconventional Public Display

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Alan faces ethical dilemmas when a caller confesses to a crime on the apology line, leading him to navigate the balance between secrecy and legal obligations. He then showcases the apology messages publicly in a museum, attracting widespread attention but feeling a sense of disconnect from the original callers. The chapter also explores the evolution of the apology line into a virtual communication platform through innovative initiatives and Alan's intense pursuit of a possible serial killer caller.

In 1980, posters appeared in subway stations and on telephone poles in New York City with a phone number to call. When you called it, you would hear a message: “This is Apology. Apology is not associated with the police or any other organization but rather is a way for you to tell people what you have done wrong and how you feel about it.”

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