Empathy Dilemma
When one is in a desperate situation or under extreme dire circumstances one tends to feel isolated, abandoned, all alone in their own despondency.
Often others act callous, indifferent, or even contemptuous towards one, subtly implying that somehow one is responsible for bringing about whatever hardship one is experiencing.
Having to suffer attitudes and behaviors like these will cause one to develop a steady animosity towards others, and in the event one witnesses someone else suffering greatly themselves, instead of feeling empathy for that other poor soul one may feel a sense of schadenfreude, figuring "Screw them!! When I needed help everyone else just left me to deal with it all myself. They acted like I 'deserved' what I was going through, like I 'brought it about' by my own stupidity or ignorance. So, as far as I'm concerned, let this poor sap 'figure THEIR OWN WAY out of' their predicament".
When one is in a desperate situation or under extreme dire circumstances one tends to feel isolated, abandoned, all alone in their own despondency.
Often others act callous, indifferent, or even contemptuous towards one, subtly implying that somehow one is responsible for bringing about whatever hardship one is experiencing.
Having to suffer attitudes and behaviors like these will cause one to develop a steady animosity towards others, and in the event one witnesses someone else suffering greatly themselves, instead of feeling empathy for that other poor soul one may feel a sense of schadenfreude, figuring "Screw them!! When I needed help everyone else just left me to deal with it all myself. They acted like I 'deserved' what I was going through, like I 'brought it about' by my own stupidity or ignorance. So, as far as I'm concerned, let this poor sap 'figure THEIR OWN WAY out of' their predicament".
It's a matter of not wasting your empathy on those who don't deserve it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but society demands you always "show others unconditional respect"
Delete...and so many people are like the proverbial "tax collectors"---you always seem to "owe them something".