Empathy is a personality trait, you don't just wake up one day and realize you're missing personality (well, you might).
Personality Test
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judas69 said:
Wrong. As far as I know, the only persons without empathy are sociopaths and other violent persons. Even Hitler, Himmler, and Mengele were considered fine friends, they had dogs, etc.;they were empathetic to certain groups of persons.
I think you labelled this whole argument incorrectly in the first place, thus leading to this pointless conversation. It is not empathy, but desensitivity towards the world. This is what I was arguing, but you, who have never met me, and decide to label me after a few very honest comments on this thread, appaently think I am a monster because I dont get all choked up about dogs dying for fur coats.
speed said:
Hitler had a dog so, he must be empathetic (completely disregarding the millions he killed)?
You still don't know what Empathy means. It's not being friendly to a dog, and it's not being sympathetic to a cause.
speed said:
Sounds like someone needs a hug.
No offense, but you were all over the place and saying all kinds of things this whole discussion. It honestly looks like you had no idea what empathy was, and are now somehow backtracking. From the very beginning, all I said was "you lack empathy" ..and this is very apparent by your statments.
But just before we end this, I am curious why you care so little about the torture of domesticated animals as opposed to wild animals? You never did explain this.
judas69 said:Hitler had a dog so, he must be empathetic (completely disregarding the millions he killed)?
You still don't know what Empathy means. It's not being friendly to a dog, and it's not being sympathetic to a cause.
Sounds like someone needs a hug.
No offense, but you were all over the place and saying all kinds of things this whole discussion. It honestly looks like you had no idea what empathy was, and are now somehow backtracking. From the very beginning, all I said was "you lack empathy" ..and this is very apparent by your statments.
But just before we end this, I am curious why you care so little about the torture of domesticated animals as opposed to wild animals? You never did explain this.
First, you are infuriating. Yes, I was not originally discussing empathy, but how man, can seperate themselves from things or people that are distant or not in immdediate contact with--like animals being skinned. I was not paying attention to your argument of empathy, but how you of all people, could say I am not empathetic, or less empathetic than you. Do you get it? Why are you so special to make that claim? Are you a psychologist, or relief worker? This was my point, what makes you so special to level these charges? Jesus, youd be pissed too, because a lack of empathy towards people and things, is generally considered a trait reserved for sociopaths and murderers. People that dont feel anything towards the pain of others. And my point with Hitler, etc, is that even they had empathy towards their friends, Germans, their dog, etc. Hitler was known to be quite warm to his secretaries and friends, inquiring about their health and relationships etc.; hence, even he was empathetic towards others.
Why wild over domesticated? I thought I already stated it. The wild animals are used to freedom, or were born free. Domesticated are not. Taking the freedom from a wild animal thus bothers me.
First understand that empathy is not binary, it's not either black or white, on or off; there are degrees. Now, in saying you "lack empathy", I was not (1) saying you had no ability to empathize at all, or (2) that you were a "sociopath" or a "monster", as you put it. These aren't my words. In addition, you do not have to be a psychologist to know when a person is being empathetic or not.
"We kill and torture people every day; why should I cry over a bunch of animals?"
I don't know about you or anyone else, but this statement does not come across as the expression of a compassionate, empathetic person. I honestly don't think it was so "far out" to say you lacked empathy, at least in this regard .. but clearly you were offended.
The Hitler thing is pure comedy, so I won't get into that. But again, just so you know, being warm to a secretary and having a dog or asking about someones health and relationship etc., is not an expression of empathy. It is being just that, friendly and sympathetic ..and there is a big difference.
"We kill and torture people every day; why should I cry over a bunch of animals?"
I don't know about you or anyone else, but this statement does not come across as the expression of a compassionate, empathetic person. I honestly don't think it was so "far out" to say you lacked empathy, at least in this regard .. but clearly you were offended.
The Hitler thing is pure comedy, so I won't get into that. But again, just so you know, being warm to a secretary and having a dog or asking about someones health and relationship etc., is not an expression of empathy. It is being just that, friendly and sympathetic ..and there is a big difference.
If you wish to continue this discussion judas, pm me. It has no relevance to anyone else, and is only bogging this thread down.
judas69 said:
Judas man, I'd close the thread if it was other people. This is a mano-a-mano argument, that was getting more and more personal.
Disgustipated
Cynical.
Yeah, we had to do these at school 'to help decide our career pathway and VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) subject choices.
I'm an INFP (Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving).
I'm an INFP (Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving).
judas69 said:First understand that empathy is not binary, it's not either black or white, on or off; there are degrees. Now, in saying you "lack empathy", I was not (1) saying you had no ability to empathize at all, or (2) that you were a "sociopath" or a "monster", as you put it. These aren't my words. In addition, you do not have to be a psychologist to know when a person is being empathetic or not.
"We kill and torture people every day; why should I cry over a bunch of animals?"
I don't know about you or anyone else, but this statement does not come across as the expression of a compassionate, empathetic person. I honestly don't think it was so "far out" to say you lacked empathy, at least in this regard .. but clearly you were offended.
The Hitler thing is pure comedy, so I won't get into that. But again, just so you know, being warm to a secretary and having a dog or asking about someones health and relationship etc., is not an expression of empathy. It is being just that, friendly and sympathetic ..and there is a big difference.
First, I restored all the posts. Second, I apologize for my behavior, and for even bothering to reply to your posts. Third, I am reminding you judas,and myself, that this is not the place for personal attacks or arguments, which I warned you against in the Global Warming Thread.
Finally, after perusing the argument, here is what I think can be gleaned: I stated I take a anthropomorphic view, and am not terribly bothered by the death of animals--although earlier in the thread, I did mention it is horrible the way they kill and torture them. I think we both can agree on this. This view of mine is obviously shared by any hunter, farmer, and most of the world. You took issue with this way of thought (i.e. anthropomorphic), and claimed since I do not feel for the suffering of these creatures--which I never said, but said there were more important things, like feeling for the suffering of humans--I apparently totally lack empathy, which, since we do not know each other, I became very angry at this accusation, and made a number of careless emotional replies. Clearly, I think you made a flaw in reasoning to think that because of this anthropomorphic view towards animals, somehow means I lack empathy all together for man. Does this solve are little problem?
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