linatet wrote:
AceofKnaves wrote:
Such as I just met this group of people and they all knew each other. So when
Person 1 said, "I found out my step mother just died,"
Everyone around her begins to tell her Sorry and that They Are there for you. While I sit in silence hoping to go invisible because I cannot feel empathy for her. I cannot tell her sorry or I am there for her or that I feel her pain, if I do not know her or feel for her. I know logically I am suppose to, but emotionally I can't. I just can't pretend.
actually I found out average person doesn't care much about strangers. They say things like "sorry" or console the person but are not really feeling it. They just know this is what is appropriate to do and know how to act it.
For instance, I am walking and talking with a friend, then another one comes and says is sad because cat died etc. the other one says something like "it will be okay" and hug and then when the person is gone they continue the conversation with me as if nothing happened.
I saw this many many times. In the beggining I thought it was weird but now I understand this is what is socially required. Doesn't mean they feel it, they just know how to act to consolate someone.
To me though I see that as a form of lying. And I know it gets me in trouble, but I cannot be dishonest about the way I feel. If you're a stranger, don't expect me to know how to empathize or sympathize.
If you're a stranger from another species you get more empathy and sympathy.
If you're a family or a close friend, you get empathy and sympathy.
Because I cannot fake emotions and I cannot lie about emotions either. Makes me seem like an as*hole, but I cannot pretend what I don't feel
25 May 2014, 4:45 pm
