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David 
to wish impossible things
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: the edge of the deep green sea
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| Post subject: Sympathy vs empathy |  |
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A friend on Facebook posed an interesting question:
How would you define the difference between sympathy and empathy? Is one better than the other?
This was my attempt to explain it:
Sympathy can have negative connotations—it's kind of like pity, and it's not always a pleasant feeling to be pitied—but I still think it's a positive thing. Far better to be able to feel sorry for someone than to not be able to, I say.
I see empathy as a step beyond sympathy. It's no longer about feeling sorry for someone; it's about identifying with them as a fellow human being—about recognising the essential similarities between you and them.
If sympathy were universal, the world would be a much kinder—if at times annoying and patronising—place. If empathy were universal, well, that'd just about be utopia.
What do you think?
_________________
"Every time we witness an injustice and do not act, we train our character to be passive in its presence." – Julian Assange |
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Lazza
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Location: Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
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| Post subject: Re: Sympathy vs empathy | |
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The terms are mutually exclusive.
For example, you can sympathise with a person who has lost both their parents in a sudden accident but cannot empathise with them if both your parents are alive and you haven't experienced the sadness involved. |
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watt price tully 
Joined: 15 May 2007
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| Post subject: Re: Sympathy vs empathy | |
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| David wrote: | A friend on Facebook posed an interesting question:
How would you define the difference between sympathy and empathy? Is one better than the other?
This was my attempt to explain it:
Sympathy can have negative connotations—it's kind of like pity, and it's not always a pleasant feeling to be pitied—but I still think it's a positive thing. Far better to be able to feel sorry for someone than to not be able to, I say.
I see empathy as a step beyond sympathy. It's no longer about feeling sorry for someone; it's about identifying with them as a fellow human being—about recognising the essential similarities between you and them.
If sympathy were universal, the world would be a much kinder—if at times annoying and patronising—place. If empathy were universal, well, that'd just about be utopia.
What do you think? |
You've got too much time on your hands  
_________________
“I even went as far as becoming a Southern Baptist until I realised they didn’t keep ‘em under long enough†Kinky Friedman |
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David
to wish impossible things
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: the edge of the deep green sea
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So, you're saying you don't empathise with my situation?
_________________
"Every time we witness an injustice and do not act, we train our character to be passive in its presence." – Julian Assange |
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watt price tully
Joined: 15 May 2007
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No sympathy either.
_________________
“I even went as far as becoming a Southern Baptist until I realised they didn’t keep ‘em under long enough†Kinky Friedman |
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Tannin 
Can't remember
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Location: Huon Valley Tasmania
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| Post subject: Re: Sympathy vs empathy | |
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| David wrote: | | How would you define the difference between sympathy and empathy? |
By looking in a good dictionary. Next question please, this one is a dud.
_________________
�Let's eat Grandma.� Commas save lives! |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Location: somewhere
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| Post subject: Re: Sympathy vs empathy | |
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I think I have too much of both, I seriously got enough for 10 men! (actually, that's not saying much, make that women!) my girl friend has zilch of either and she will tell you so, she just cant cope with anyone elses pain!! not even her kids. they go bang on the court, burst into tears, and its me who picks them up! we are a good team, she makes up for me over reacting.
my empathy allows me to see an old "drunk" and wonder what is causing their pain, my sympathy sees me burst into tears when they fall
I olny know one truly sympathetic male, and im sure hes gay.no, really.
my husband has empathy, he knows I hurt when Collingwood lose, but he doesn't care enough to have sympathy!!
hmm, im gunna have to do that mountain o ironing arnt I? Tannin, I need another appliance, one of those big presses maybe?
_________________
You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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David
to wish impossible things
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: the edge of the deep green sea
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| Post subject: Re: Sympathy vs empathy | |
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| Tannin wrote: | | David wrote: | | How would you define the difference between sympathy and empathy? |
By looking in a good dictionary. Next question please, this one is a dud. |
What about my second question? Do you think they are inherently valuable? Do we need to do more to foster them in society? If you teach empathy, do you need to teach sympathy too? Etc.
_________________
"Every time we witness an injustice and do not act, we train our character to be passive in its presence." – Julian Assange |
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Nick - Pie Man
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
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| I thought empathy was supposed to be something you people were born with. |
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David
to wish impossible things
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: the edge of the deep green sea
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Lol at "you people". 
I reckon it has to be learned.
_________________
"Every time we witness an injustice and do not act, we train our character to be passive in its presence." – Julian Assange |
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HAL
Please don't shout at me - I can't help it.
Joined: 17 Mar 2003
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| I am glad you find this funny. Has it really? |
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Nick - Pie Man
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
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| I certainly hope it is something that can be taught - not just for my benefit but for society as a whole. |
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1061
Joined: 06 Sep 2013
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| David wrote: | Lol at "you people".
I reckon it has to be learned. |
OMG I have sympathy for you if you honestly believe that. |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Location: somewhere
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| David wrote: | Lol at "you people".
I reckon it has to be learned. |
noi don't think so. I think it can be built on, but surely we all have it in us to think " there but for the grace of God go I"
except Nick.
_________________
You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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Tannin
Can't remember
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Location: Huon Valley Tasmania
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| Nick - Pie Man wrote: | | I thought empathy was supposed to be something you people were born with. |
Correct! It is. It's in our DNA, one of the qualities which has made us an evolutionary success. It is an inherent part of our genetic makeup which, like most such abilities, can be and should be brought to fruition during our development, primarily during childhood, especially during early childhood. Those first few years are vital. The mother-child relationship is particularly important for it, though other relationships can at least partially substitute for it.
Can it be taught? Of course, and it is. Even the worst of humans usually has some vestigal trace of it, but if you haven't learned a decent dose of it by, say, the age of five, you will almost certainly never improve by more than a small amount. Some people do,but it's very rare.
Can it be taught in schools? Good luck with that.
_________________
�Let's eat Grandma.� Commas save lives! |
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