Thread: Empathy. Are we born with it?

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I think it's easier to have sympathy for someone who has had bad experiences than it is to have empathy and actually share the person's feelings.

I reckon your close here, DM. One could show varying levels of sympathy towards someone else's 'Experience', but one's level of empathy may perhaps be lessened or heightened, by one's personal attitude, reaction to, or handling of the same experience.

Are you born with it? I think yes.

My wife is an empath which is great for those around her needing support and understanding. Her immediate family were not. Its bad for her as the door to her inner self is wide open, in fact there is no door, its just a bloody big hole in her that lets everything in, good and bad.

Me, I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I can empathise with people but generally only if they are deserving (or maybe blameless). Maybe I'm some sort of low level sociopath. My mother is worse than me and I suspect others down the lineage are the same.

But....you are not one thing or another, you're a mix of good and bad, practical and not, traits. The trick is to know your strengths and weaknesses. My remoteness is tempered by her empathy.

Originally Posted by Saitch

I reckon your close here, DM. One could show varying levels of sympathy towards someone else's 'Experience', but one's level of empathy may perhaps be lessened or heightened, by one's personal attitude, reaction to, or handling of the same experience.

Our own bias impacts on all aspects of our lives. A new 'tosser of the week' in CA is not showing empathy to a judge who showed a lot of empathy for a unknown criminal pest.

Must admit I have a lack of empathy at times In some instances Legally forced ignorance is a mitigating circumstance for a lack of empathy?

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

Our own bias impacts on all aspects of our lives. A new 'tosser of the week' in CA is not showing empathy to a judge who showed a lot of empathy for a unknown criminal pest.

Must admit I have a lack of empathy at times In some instances Legally forced ignorance is a mitigating circumstance for a lack of empathy?

I am sorry Navey But Personally I Truly believe that "Kiddy Fiddlers" are NOT deserving of anyones Empathy or Sympathy as what they do is pure evil and are completely deserving of our wrath and anger NOT our Empathy, Sympathy or even Pity.

Originally Posted by trout1105

I am sorry Navey But Personally I Truly believe that "Kiddy Fiddlers" are NOT deserving of anyones Empathy or Sympathy as what they do is pure evil and are completely deserving of our wrath and anger NOT our Empathy, Sympathy or even Pity.

Don't be sorry. Love the way your thinking

More than a few would happily volunteer to end that threat with a terminal outcome if it was legal. Its not legal thus my tosser of the week directed to a Judge who allowed the person out of jail to continue to be 'a significant' threat to children.

I have a relative who is a magistrate. He tries to find ways to encourage people to make better decisions and change their lives. Some respond well, while others make promises, but break them. He has gaoled some.
Judges can't predict the future. Prison rarely reforms people, but may reinforce their negative side. It's just human nature.

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

Don't be sorry. Love the way your thinking

More than a few would happily volunteer to end that threat with a terminal outcome if it was legal. Its not legal thus my tosser of the week directed to a Judge who allowed the person out of jail to continue to be 'a significant' threat to children.

The number of judges that give these people (and I use that term very very loosely) bail or sentences that are entirely suspended or significantly inadequate, makes me wonder what the .... umm.... recreational activities of these judges are.

Originally Posted by ChookD2

The number of judges that give these people (and I use that term very very loosely) bail or sentences that are entirely suspended or significantly inadequate, makes me wonder what the .... umm.... recreational activities of these judges are.

Sometimes I think when they've climbed the ladder to those heights the oxygen deprivation starts to impair their judgement.