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Johnny Rockets wrote:Perhaps more like empathy?
If I had Japanese relatives, or friends living in Japan, I guess it would hit closer to home.
However, it's a level of sympathy.
To say you care nothing about the situation paints you as a complete dick. Mothers and children are dead, dying, or still missing. However, you are not expected to sink to your knees, wail to the heavens, and rend your hair to mix blood with your tears.
Unless it's your mother or child ...
It's just not a black and white issue.
JRock
Haggis_McMutton wrote:I mean sure, I want there to be minimal victims and I'm hoping they'll recuperate from this disaster well. But I don't feel any actual sympathy for them, they're pretty much a statistic to me.
Caring for others is one of the traits in evolution that has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".
Haggis_McMutton wrote:Have you really managed to fit all of the japanese victims into your monkey sphere ?
PLAYER57832 wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:I mean sure, I want there to be minimal victims and I'm hoping they'll recuperate from this disaster well. But I don't feel any actual sympathy for them, they're pretty much a statistic to me.
This is scary
PLAYER57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits in evolution that has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
PLAYER57832 wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:Have you really managed to fit all of the japanese victims into your monkey sphere ?
While the basic point is valid -- we care more about individuals than huge masses of people, they fail to fully illustrate some important differences between humans and monkeys. Its not just that our brains are larger, the way we process information is different from monkeys. That is why we can speak, not just one, but multiple languages, but monkeys can only use a few signs/sounds.
tokerForElf wrote:As far as the Japanese go, I mean, I feel bad for them, that's gotta suck. But no, it's not the same as if it happened to someone I knew. Before, I would hear about people being raped and murdered, and it was like, "oh well, shit happens all the time." Then it happened to someone I know. I reacted quite a bit different. Now I'm a bit more sensitive to that kind of thing just because of the familiarity. I suspect anyone who has lost loved ones to or lived through an earthquake would have more sympathy for the Japanese than those who haven't.
OK, sort of semantics more than anything else.Haggis_McMutton wrote:PLAYER57832 wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:I mean sure, I want there to be minimal victims and I'm hoping they'll recuperate from this disaster well. But I don't feel any actual sympathy for them, they're pretty much a statistic to me.
This is scary
Allright. Do you also personally care about the people who died in the mongol invasion of China?
how far back does your empathy extend? Do you have unlimited capability for compassion? At some point it becomes only a statistic.
PLAYER57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits in evolution that has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
Haggis_McMutton wrote:I never said anything about being "not worthy", I just don't think it is actually possible to care about everyone in a significant way. I think we try to believe it is possible cause it makes us feel better.
Like I said, a lot of these acts are obviously horrible from a rational standpoint, you don't need feelings to believe they are horrible.
PLAYER57832 wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:Have you really managed to fit all of the japanese victims into your monkey sphere ?
While the basic point is valid -- we care more about individuals than huge masses of people, they fail to fully illustrate some important differences between humans and monkeys. Its not just that our brains are larger, the way we process information is different from monkeys. That is why we can speak, not just one, but multiple languages, but monkeys can only use a few signs/sounds.
tokerForElf wrote:As far as the Japanese go, I mean, I feel bad for them, that's gotta suck. But no, it's not the same as if it happened to someone I knew. Before, I would hear about people being raped and murdered, and it was like, "oh well, shit happens all the time." Then it happened to someone I know. I reacted quite a bit different. Now I'm a bit more sensitive to that kind of thing just because of the familiarity. I suspect anyone who has lost loved ones to or lived through an earthquake would have more sympathy for the Japanese than those who haven't.
Haggis_McMutton wrote:Inspired by BBS's thread, but I'm going in a different direction with this.
It's not that the Japanese are to blame or anything silly like that, but are you guys claiming you feel actual sympathy for them? like you would feel when a friend is hurt?
What about all the other people who die every day? You guys feel sympathy for them too? D'you mourn every damn human being's passing?
Have you really managed to fit all of the japanese victims into your monkey sphere ?
I mean sure, I want there to be minimal victims and I'm hoping they'll recuperate from this disaster well. But I don't feel any actual sympathy for them, they're pretty much a statistic to me.
PLAYER57832 wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:I mean sure, I want there to be minimal victims and I'm hoping they'll recuperate from this disaster well. But I don't feel any actual sympathy for them, they're pretty much a statistic to me.
This is scaryCaring for others is one of the traits GOD has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".Haggis_McMutton wrote:Have you really managed to fit all of the japanese victims into your monkey sphere ?
While the basic point is valid -- we care more about individuals we know or can get to know,than for huge masses of people --- they fail to fully illustrate some important differences between humans and monkeys. Its not just that our brains are larger, the way we process information is different from monkeys. That is why we can speak, not just one, but multiple languages, but monkeys can only use a few signs/sounds.
For example, that people do not box up glass may have less to do with "not caring" and more to do with the thinking that we know not everyone would take such steps, so the garbage collectors need to take steps to ensure they will not get cut, that they need to protect themselves and do our extra effort is just not necessary.
We had a classic example of this just recently. The Tsunami hit a few days before a large fire, where 1 person was tragically killed, many other people were left homeless, including serveral kids in my son's school. We talked about the Tsunami, it was sad. However, the victims of the fire are being stopped in the street and handed money, bags of clothing (too much clothing, in fact) have been donated.. etc. These people are OUR responsibility, the Japanese people... many of us have donated money, but they are not our personnal responsibility. I did call a friend of mine who has a mother overseas to see if they needed help getting her a ticket here (I just got my tax return back and so had some money I could loan for an emergency.. knowing FULL well it would be repaid soon), but lots of people are, together helping those Japanese victims. No one else, outside of our greater community (I include nearby towns in that, not just our own town), would help the fire victims.
PLAYER57832 wrote:Too many of those who claim they don't believe global warming are really "end-timer" Christians.
jay_a2j wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".Player57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits evolved to Jay change it to: GOD has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
Fixed.
PLAYER57832 wrote:jay_a2j wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".Player57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits evolved to Jay change it to: GOD has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
Fixed.
God is FULLY capable of using evolution. And all evidence shows he has.
Army of GOD wrote:Yes, I feel sympathy for them but no, I don't make an infinite number of threads talking about them and how bad I feel. People are dying all the time for a bunch of different things and I feel bad for ANYONE who goes through death. Even the Hitlers of the world. Idk why, I just do.
And it doesn't stop with humans...I feel this way about animals too. Not plants though. Does that make me an asshole?
I don't feel much sympathy for plants.
PLAYER57832 wrote:jay_a2j wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".Player57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits evolved to Jay change it to: GOD has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
Fixed.
God is FULLY capable of using evolution. And all evidence shows he has.
Baron Von PWN wrote:Actually there is no evidence god has done anything. There is however plenty of evidence for evolution.
PLAYER57832 wrote:jay_a2j wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".Player57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits evolved to Jay change it to: GOD has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
Fixed.
God is FULLY capable of using evolution. And all evidence shows he has.
PLAYER57832 wrote:Too many of those who claim they don't believe global warming are really "end-timer" Christians.
jay_a2j wrote:He is capable, but didn't. Scripture shows He didn't.
PLAYER57832 wrote:jay_a2j wrote:He is capable, but didn't. Scripture shows He didn't.
No, it does not. If scripture did, then the facts would not be as they are. God does not lie.
.. but I am more than happy to continue this in another thread more fully, if you wish.
Actually, I will go further. Show me the passages that show evolution did not happen.
Haggis_McMutton wrote:On a serious note, you're saying that if I provide a one line obituary now about a man that died in a car crash in Dubai, you will experience an actual emotion while reading that?
jay_a2j wrote:PLAYER57832 wrote:jay_a2j wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".Player57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits evolved to Jay change it to: GOD has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
Fixed.
God is FULLY capable of using evolution. And all evidence shows he has.
He is capable, but didn't. Scripture shows He didn't.
Army of GOD wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:On a serious note, you're saying that if I provide a one line obituary now about a man that died in a car crash in Dubai, you will experience an actual emotion while reading that?
Yes. It's not like it's a HUGE emotional reaction, but it is a subtle sadness. Dying seems like it sucks, period.
Haggis_McMutton wrote:Army of GOD wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:On a serious note, you're saying that if I provide a one line obituary now about a man that died in a car crash in Dubai, you will experience an actual emotion while reading that?
Yes. It's not like it's a HUGE emotional reaction, but it is a subtle sadness. Dying seems like it sucks, period.
Except if you're a plant, right?
Bigot.
jay_a2j wrote:PLAYER57832 wrote:jay_a2j wrote:Haggis_McMutton wrote:That's just it. I think this may just be a cultural thing. We paint it as "normal" to care about those people on a personal level, and therefore due to peer pressure and such we try to convince ourselves that we care, that we aren't "monsters".Player57832 wrote:Caring for others is one of the traits evolved to Jay change it to: GOD has ensured human survival, that distinguishes us from animals. (some animals absolutely do show compassion, but not to the extent we do)
Labeling others as "not worthy", in contrast, is the kind of thinking that allows/causes wars and such ulimately heneous acts as the holocaust, pol pot, apartheid, etc.
Now, of course I know you said you do care, just not as much. However, this capacity to care is a far from just a "social more".
Fixed.
God is FULLY capable of using evolution. And all evidence shows he has.
He is capable, but didn't. Scripture shows He didn't.
Night Strike wrote:PLAYER57832 wrote:jay_a2j wrote:He is capable, but didn't. Scripture shows He didn't.
No, it does not. If scripture did, then the facts would not be as they are. God does not lie.
.. but I am more than happy to continue this in another thread more fully, if you wish.
Actually, I will go further. Show me the passages that show evolution did not happen.
The whole "God spoke" and 7 days thing is just slightly in conflict with that. As well as the passages about there being no death until humans sinned.
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