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[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you all know how much I value your opinions- so what are your thoughts on "empathy"?

Comments

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

It's good to have some. You can't go through life being an emotionless robot and it's nice to be able to know what others are feeling. You don't always have to care, but it's good to know.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

So you're saying that you believe that lack of empathy means lack of emotion entirely?

[pandorabox]

Empathy? It's a useful skill to have.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

And why is that?

[pandorabox]

It helps you read people better. Friends, family... and enemies.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

You don't need empathy to read people.

[pandorabox]

...

It helps significantly. If you can get a good feel on someone's emotions, then it's easier to deal with them.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Nonsense. One can understand another's emotions without feeling them themselves. For instance, I can tell that at the moment, you are ever-so-slightly irritated. Do I feel your irritation? No. Can I recognize it? Of course.

[roseandsparkle.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good thing to have!

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Why?

[pandorabox]

Recognizing someone's emotions is easy, but it doesn't help you understand them at all does it? Now if you were actually able to feel the way they were feeling, then you would understand them on a whole new level.

[hates-cliches.livejournal.com]

Empathy is a form of weakness.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

For once, you say something that I can agree with.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Why would I need to feel another's emotions? They're theirs, not mine.

[pandorabox]

I just told you why.

[roseandsparkle.livejournal.com]

Because if you can feel what other people are feeling, then maybe you can help them!

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

No, you spouted out some ridiculous theory that the only way you can understand a person is to feel their emotions for them.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

You can do that without empathy.

[pandorabox]

I didn't say feeling emotions for them! That's not what empathy is. I said that you can understand a person better by being empathetic with them!

[roseandsparkle.livejournal.com]

But it's better if you can feel the same way as they do.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

The definition of empathy is the ability to feel another's emotions- to feel their pain, their joy, etcetera.

[hotpinkaura.livejournal.com]

...

What's that?

[pandorabox]

Yeah, but to feel it with them, not for them.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

No, that would be counterproductive. To use your example of helping another person- that is, I'm assuming you meant making them feel better about something- how would your own sadness help the situation at all? Objectivity is far more valuable than emotionality, in any situation.

[peoplesprincess.livejournal.com]

Oh, for-

Empathy is the ability to feel another's emotions first-hand- not just to recognize or understand them, but to actually feel them.