Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

bananafobe t1_itu3jzj wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Man bursts into flames after being tasered during arrest in Arkansas by V3r4L4u7aro420

It's not contradictory to feel empathy for someone who was harmed by their own actions.

24

NGJohn t1_ituhiu1 wrote

And it's not necessarily callous not to feel empathy for someone who was harmed by their own actions.

0

ADHthaGreat t1_ituj76b wrote

Yes it is.

Empathy is about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Imagining if it was YOU getting set on fire.

I assume you’re thinking of sympathy.

4

NGJohn t1_ituk6yz wrote

Hmmm. Yes, I think you're right, thanks.

I don't think most people feel empathy in these horrible instances either, though. Most people aren't very empathetic to begin with.

−1

ZenHun t1_itw09n4 wrote

Most people aren't very smart to begin with. So do we allow ourselves to be dragged down to the common denominator, or do we stand above?

2

NGJohn t1_itwhp43 wrote

I'm not really sure what you mean by your comment since intelligence and empathy are to a large degree innate, but whatever.

−2