It’s a matter of public opinion.
Hmm. I never got that out of Ender’s Game. I saw it more that he was very *capable *of empathy, making him a more effective warrior. I don’t think he had automatic empathy for the Buggers; I think that developed, with some external pushing.
/hijack
If you had absolute empathy, you’d know.
Having a profound understanding of what someone else is going through and how they got to the point they’re currently at does not mean being unable to disagree with them, oppose them, or, heck, pull the switch to electrocute them to death in the electric chair.
Maximum empathy means maximum understanding of the world you inhabit and the other people (and non-human life forms etc) that inhabit it. And that, in turn, enhances your own ability to survive and thrive.
The limits on empathy have to do with available time and available input information, not issues of loyalty or conflicts with self-interest.
I will be the first to admit I lack empathy. I don’t think I’m psychopathic or anything. But I don’t understand why people sometimes react the way I do, and I have a bad habit of thinking that people’s emotions are being fabricated for effect. I think it’s why I can’t be bothered to deal with people beyond the superficical. They perplex me so much they give me a headache.
What I am good at is pretending I get it. I don’t have to understand why someone is upset to do the right thing by them. I don’t have to weep when everyone is weeping, but I know enough not to tell them to “suck it up”. I don’t have to feel sorry for someone to know they need help. Feelings really don’t matter as much as social intelligence, IMHO.
I was actually thinking about this topic last night, during the news. There was a story about a cow that had fallen through some ice and then died, despite people’s attempts to save it. I know my heart should have been tugged, but I didn’t feel anything. In fact, the story kind of annoyed me. How many of those brave rescuers went home to steak and potatoes? Am I a bad person for not feeling empathy towards a dead cow? I don’t know. But I’m guessing I’d feel differently about the whole thing if I had been on the ice with that cow. I think a lot of people lack empathy when it comes to hypothetical scenarios. But put them in a real situation and things change.
Well, in fact, people often do exaggerate their emotions to have other people feel sorry for them. I wish I had time to give you a cite but I need to go to work. I agree with you that people often overdo their emotions is my point.
As long as you employ social intelligence and dont say the wrong thing, I think you are ok. Not trying to be rude but if someone is rally upset maybe you could try to be a bit more receptive, but, I think most peoples reactions, most of the time, are kind of excessive. You are not required to support them in that. Well, At least that is my opinion.
Yes, I agree, you are correct.
That is quite common. You can see “bad news” on TV and it is not the same as seeing the same event in real life.
It’s as Wesley Clark says - for some, or even many, people the homeless and or illegals are a threat to their way of life. There are also “levels” to look at (I can’t find the right word, so levels will have to do); is this person homeless thru no fault of his own, or did he just refuse to be responsible? Is this illegal trying to work and support himself, or is he just sponging off a system he isn’t putting anything into? How many homeless/illegals does an individual person come in contact with, so how much do they impact his life?
It is difficult to have empathy for people who are negatively impacting ones life; it’s easy if there is no impact and one’s only exposure is what sympathizers say.
So if apathy is at one end of the spectrum, and empathy is in the middle, is zeepathy at the other end?
Zedpathy
