Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Empathy - Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives. Similar to pity. I am posting this to find out if I am alone on this or not. I do have empathy sometimes, but only when it is out of their control. I do not feel sorry for people, nor am I able to put myself in their position when THEY did this to themselves. I do not feel sorry for someone who ODed on drugs, nor someone who loses their house because they decided some stupid item was more important than their taxes. I would hope I receive the same in return, don't feel sorry for me because I did something stupid. I feel sorry for the people killed by drunk drivers. I feel and understand others pains for things like this. I may not show empathy but I sure as hell do have empathy sometimes. The idea that I should try and make someone feel better about a bad situation they are in to me is foolish. Saying " I know how you feel " is stupid to me. I cant know how someone feels unless they say so, nor can any other NT that thinks other wise. You can only guess if not told. Everyones life experience is different. If some doctor asked me what I thought of a women would feel if her husband just died I would get it wrong because I wouldn't describe pain or confusion. Instead I would need to talk with the women. Maybe her husband was an abusive drunk and this is the best thing to ever happen to her, and unless you ask, or know them very well there is no way of knowing. People would assume at my fathers funeral that my sisters where crying because of the loss of their father. But they would only be right on one of them. The other it was anger and frustration at her father for being such a terrible man for so much of his life. Now I felt true and real empathy for them, one because she lost someone close to her, the other for the hate she had for him. Now anyone other than me and my mother would not have known without asking the 2nd what she was really feeling. Had they asked her she would have lied for fear of being looked down on for disliking her father. Most people telling her " I know how you feel " would be wrong, because they don't, only she really does. ok rant over. btw Anyone else get an invite to ASAN? I didnt sign up for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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