It’s simply a property you have or don’t have. Obviously it’s a more meaningful, deeper thing than being a bootstraps sociopath. But the thing is, if someone needs an actual reason to have empathy, then they just aren’t truly a good person really.
The way I try to convince them, is by saying that empathy is the reason they are here, and have what they do. And that like others gave to them, they should give to others. It’s like a retroactive deal, where the reason the whole thing works, is because you pay forward to the next generation, in hopes that they will do the same.
Then we got generations of bootstrap sociopaths that leave their own children in impossible situations. They don’t care about right or wrong.
What I do is point out how others oppression can also effect them and the people they care about.
With immigration for example a lot of people don’t care that the immigrants don’t get any due process before being deported / locked in a concentration camp.
if you can convince them this can also effect them you just might be able to get them to care.
Western capitalistic mantra idolizes individualism. Its so ingrained in the culture that you can actually not care about anyone outside of your ingroup and do okay. In other cultures you would be cooked.
Lack of empathy is a natural consequence of the culture. I always find it fascinating that people here relish in their disdain towards others. Don’t get me wrong people can be annoying.
But when you combine disdain for others with a perception of patriotism that is centered on violence, you are creating the optimal conditions for fascism to take root.
I really don’t know how to convince people they should care about others.
I don’t know how to teach empathy.
You’re taught empathy by empathetic parents.
And we see now a lot of families have a long lineage of cunts.
It’s simply a property you have or don’t have. Obviously it’s a more meaningful, deeper thing than being a bootstraps sociopath. But the thing is, if someone needs an actual reason to have empathy, then they just aren’t truly a good person really.
The way I try to convince them, is by saying that empathy is the reason they are here, and have what they do. And that like others gave to them, they should give to others. It’s like a retroactive deal, where the reason the whole thing works, is because you pay forward to the next generation, in hopes that they will do the same.
Then we got generations of bootstrap sociopaths that leave their own children in impossible situations. They don’t care about right or wrong.
What I do is point out how others oppression can also effect them and the people they care about.
With immigration for example a lot of people don’t care that the immigrants don’t get any due process before being deported / locked in a concentration camp.
if you can convince them this can also effect them you just might be able to get them to care.
Western capitalistic mantra idolizes individualism. Its so ingrained in the culture that you can actually not care about anyone outside of your ingroup and do okay. In other cultures you would be cooked.
Lack of empathy is a natural consequence of the culture. I always find it fascinating that people here relish in their disdain towards others. Don’t get me wrong people can be annoying.
But when you combine disdain for others with a perception of patriotism that is centered on violence, you are creating the optimal conditions for fascism to take root.