http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2007/05/30/empathy/ "Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane." - Philip K Dick Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:32:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2007/05/30/empathy/comment-page-1/#comment-2318 CJOK Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:35:00 +0000 http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2007/05/30/empathy/#comment-2318 I can't really see what your problem is regarding empathy. I'd have thought anyone with an imagination and a willingness to use it, would find empathizing with another person relatively easy ? OK, so experience is relevant, but by the age of 30, say, most people should have learned enough from life to relate to another persons 'feelings'. And it only takes a little bit of effort to put yourself in somebody else's shoes for a moment ! I can’t really see what your problem is regarding empathy. I’d have thought anyone with an imagination and a willingness to use it, would find empathizing with another person relatively easy ? OK, so experience is relevant, but by the age of 30, say, most people should have learned enough from life to relate to another persons ‘feelings’. And it only takes a little bit of effort to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes for a moment !

]]> http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2007/05/30/empathy/comment-page-1/#comment-2315 Edd Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:00:28 +0000 http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2007/05/30/empathy/#comment-2315 Although it is difficult to remember pain, often the most vivid memories you have are created in a time of emotional extremes, maybe the vivid nostalgia with the lost emotion makes it even harder to be empathetic. Although it is difficult to remember pain, often the most vivid memories you have are created in a time of emotional extremes, maybe the vivid nostalgia with the lost emotion makes it even harder to be empathetic.

]]> http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2007/05/30/empathy/comment-page-1/#comment-1749 Oscar Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:29:54 +0000 http://thesimulacra.net/journal/2007/05/30/empathy/#comment-1749 Try to remember pain, you can't. You remember you were in pain but not the physical feeling. Why is this? I think its because you dont want to remember - you dont want to relive it, its the same with emotional pain. Try to remember being depressed. Thats why i think its hard to feel empathy. Seeing someone else under those conditions reminds you what you felt but you dont want to relive your pain. Perhaps its too much to assume that your forgetting about it on purpose without knowing it but it certainly seems to be. Try to remember pain, you can’t. You remember you were in pain but not the physical feeling. Why is this? I think its because you dont want to remember – you dont want to relive it, its the same with emotional pain. Try to remember being depressed. Thats why i think its hard to feel empathy. Seeing someone else under those conditions reminds you what you felt but you dont want to relive your pain. Perhaps its too much to assume that your forgetting about it on purpose without knowing it but it certainly seems to be.

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