Author Topic: Apparently, I lack empathy.  (Read 5477 times)

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Offline bkg

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Apparently, I lack empathy.
« on: December 20, 2009, 11:17:37 AM »
Ex-gf is frustrated with me for not having empathy. She's a therapist and was talking how she scored very high on an exam recently for having empathy and an ability to see uniqueness in each individual.

My comment that not everyone is special or unique didn't go over well. So I asked her what better helped bond a society together - common language, culture and focusing on our similaritiies... or focusing on our differences, which I believe breads self-segregation, anxiety and racial/cultural tensions. She thinks I'm FOS, so I called her a lib.

She flipped me off.  :rotf: :rotf:

I admit, I have little empathy - I think we've twisted the idea of empathy into meaning agreement, endorsement and victimhood. I don't believe everyone is unique or special - I sure as hell am not (just don't tell Hawkgirl), so WTF does everyone think they have to be called out as special?

:shrug:
« Last Edit: December 20, 2009, 05:08:29 PM by bkg »

Offline SVPete

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2009, 12:01:23 PM »
Well, everyone is a little different, unique, etc., on some level, but geez la-weez, 15 minutes of fame is excessive and too many are demanding it without reason for that fame. I'm content to be "invisible" and try to be a decent human being (an endangered species these days, IMO).
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Offline SVPete

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2009, 12:03:19 PM »
But I definitely agree that trying to build a cohesive society based on differences is self-defeating from the outset. Cohesion is based on common concerns and ideas, not divergent concerns and ideas.
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Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2009, 04:17:44 PM »
I'd agree with you bkg....I think humans are a lot alike...most actions will yield the same re actions on most people. 

Unless you're a lib...then you have to use reverse psychology... :evillaugh:

Offline Wayne

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2009, 05:06:12 PM »
  Thats why You tube was invented. So people could show off their uniqueness . Or was that pron that does that?

Offline Aaron Burr

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2009, 05:28:14 PM »
Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is an EX girl friend? A therapist that flips you off if she doesn't like what you say?

Sweet Jesus man, get a dog.

Offline Chris

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2009, 05:33:55 PM »
I get the same load from my aunt and my sister.  Apparently, the men in our family don't "share" enough, or some such bullshit.  Good grief.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is an EX girl friend? A therapist that flips you off if she doesn't like what you say?

Sweet Jesus man, get a dog.

:rofl:
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Offline bkg

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2009, 06:04:34 PM »
Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is an EX girl friend? A therapist that flips you off if she doesn't like what you say?

Sweet Jesus man, get a dog.

Don't get riled over it. We're great friends. Her flipping me off was mostly in jest and quite entertaining (hence the  :rotf: :rotf:)

Offline Airwolf

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2009, 06:29:11 PM »
I didn't know it was National Empathy Day and if it was I still wouldn't give a ****. Your not required to have a certain amount of it so I fail to see why the Ex is being a bitch about it. People are different no matter what DUmmies tell everyone.
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Offline BadCat

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2009, 07:22:55 PM »
Meh.

I have no empathy, I have no sympathy either.
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Offline crockspot

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #10 on: December 20, 2009, 11:20:11 PM »
It seems appropriate to break out a quote from Fight Club here:

You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.

:cheersmate:

Offline Oceander

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2009, 11:56:09 PM »
Ex-gf is frustrated with me for not having empathy. She's a therapist and was talking how she scored very high on an exam recently for having empathy and an ability to see uniqueness in each individual.

My comment that not everyone is special or unique didn't go over well. So I asked her what better helped bond a society together - common language, culture and focusing on our similaritiies... or focusing on our differences, which I believe breads self-segregation, anxiety and racial/cultural tensions. She thinks I'm FOS, so I called her a lib.

She flipped me off.  :rotf: :rotf:

I admit, I have little empathy - I think we've twisted the idea of empathy into meaning agreement, endorsement and victimhood. I don't believe everyone is unique or special - I sure as hell am not (just don't tell Hawkgirl), so WTF does everyone think they have to be called out as special?

:shrug:

Doesn't sound like the two of you ever really got to the subject of empathy in the first place.  That being said, trying to "talk" with your girlfriend (or, worse yet, your wife) on subjects like that - and particularly anything that is near and dear to her heart - is simply a nonstarter - don't do it; if you want her to stick around, you need to start practicing this "yes, Dear."

Offline bkg

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2009, 08:52:40 AM »
You guys are taking this way to friggen seriously. I thought it was funny. It was an entertaining exchange. The last thing I would ever do is walk away any serious discussion with someone I care about, and with whom I have a very strong, honest relationship. - yes Dear? Never gonna happen.

Offline DefiantSix

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2009, 09:00:57 AM »
If you want to really get her riled BKG, just tell her, "yup, you're unique; just like everybody else". :evillaugh:
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Offline bkg

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2009, 09:05:12 AM »
If you want to really get her riled BKG, just tell her, "yup, you're unique; just like everybody else". :evillaugh:

no desire to get her riled. Why would I?

Offline DefiantSix

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #15 on: December 21, 2009, 09:12:07 AM »
no desire to get her riled. Why would I?

We're guys; it's what we do.
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Offline IassaFTots

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #16 on: December 21, 2009, 09:52:10 AM »
We're guys; it's what we do.


WHY???????????


 :rotf: :rotf:
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Offline DefiantSix

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #17 on: December 21, 2009, 09:54:55 AM »

WHY???????????


 :rotf: :rotf:

That's like asking why the sun rises in the East, or why men pee standing up.  It just happens.
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"I'm not looking for forgiveness, and I'm way past asking permission"
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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #18 on: December 21, 2009, 11:02:00 AM »
She should have more appreciation for why you see the world the way you do.

Until then her "empathy" is just so much self-congratulating nonsense.
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #19 on: December 21, 2009, 11:06:23 AM »

WHY???????????


 :rotf: :rotf:

Why does a dog lick its balls?

And yeah, empathy is understanding of one's issues.  But when people revel in our DIFFERENCES, that's when all the bullshit hits the fan.
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Offline Ree

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #20 on: December 21, 2009, 11:37:17 AM »
Empathy? who needs it? It's just a bunch of made up touchy feely crap...
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Offline Chump

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #21 on: December 21, 2009, 11:52:42 AM »
Empathy is fine and dandy.  It's when we start basing political and economic policy on "feeling bad" for people that everything goes all to hell.
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Offline Aaron Burr

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #22 on: December 21, 2009, 12:17:17 PM »
This is ridiculous. Just roll up a newspaper and swat her on the nose.

It's a respect issue. No way would I take that kind of disrespect from a skirt...or even my dog. Fortunately, the same training methods work for both species.

Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #23 on: December 21, 2009, 02:01:28 PM »
Meh.

I have no empathy, I have no sympathy either.

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Offline rich_t

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Re: Apparently, I lack empathy.
« Reply #24 on: December 21, 2009, 04:34:00 PM »
Empathy is over rate and for pussies.

Screw everyone I say.


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