If empathy is a fundamental human quality, how can conservatives be considered human?

@SW-User I'm asking for suggestions on how they could be considered human, though, a fact that seems to be lost on all these oh-so-offended conservatives. Instead of helping me, they are attacking me. Unsurprising.

@daisymay but why would you need reasons on why they are considered human? I disagree with a lot of things including those who want to leave the EU in my country but they are people in some cases hard working people just like us they just have different views. Why does there need to be such a divide??? Surely working together, opening respectful dialogue is the way forward??

@SW-User [quote]Surely working together, opening respectful dialogue is the way forward??[/quote]

Certainly not. I believe in the Golden Rule. For the first half of my life, I've let them treat me as they want to be treated. Now that I'm in the latter half, it's time to give them what they wanted.

Otherwise, the Golden Rule would be bullshit, and I won't go to my grave content if that's the case.

@daisymay I really don't understand this view point, why wouldn't you want to work things out with opposing sides. Surely this division in your country and mine is breaking it. I fear that we can never repair the damage that has been done and both Republicans and Democrats are to blame as are leave and remain in my country. No side is blameless and if you don't believe that then I truly believe you're part of the problem.

@SW-User Math is the reason. We don't need them to win elections (not sure about UK, sorry) and we should certainly not want them societally.

I have never said liberals are blameless. Not one time have I ever said that.

Conservatives are clear and present dangers to me, my country, and my planet. All of them. They need to go, so I advocate shunning them and letting them group up and try to survive the best they can and wait for them to disappear into the dung heap of history.

@daisymay that is so much of a overreaction to things. There are many good people on the conservative side but seems that you don't want to see that. This kind of attitude is what is dividing us all.

@SW-User [quote]that is so much of a overreaction to things[/quote]

Don't you dare tell me that my experiences that have brought me to this place are inconsequential. You have no idea.

It's literally what they want. Do you propose that conservatives do not ascribe to the Golden Rule? Almost every major religion uses that as one of its core tenets.

They have shown me how they want to be treated through their words and deeds. I must return the favor.

@daisymay I don't want to offend. But I stand by not all Conservatives are bad people.

@SW-User I agree to disagree, then.

@daisymay that's your perogative however, to me saying that cons lack empathy seems a bit hypocritical 🤔

@daisymay What you are suggesting by treating them the way they've treated you is called an eye for an eye. That is in opposition of the Golden Rule.

@midnightrose "as they have done unto you"

What part don't you understand about that last bit?

@daisymay Do unto others [i]as you would have them do unto you[/i]. It's thinking about how you'd wish to be treated and extending that toward others. Their actions is not what is being looked at here. Certainly, if people have mistreated you, that needs to be addressed and handled. That doesn't mean you have to act as they do.

How is my paraphrase different than what you wrote? Regardless of the phrasing, the first part is what they have done to me over the last 40+ years. Now, it is my duty to ensure the second part of the Golden Rule is applied.

@daisymay It's different because your focus is in a different place. You say you believe in the Golden Rule, but you aren't applying it if you don't treat others as [b][i]you[/i][/b] want to be treated, rather than how they've treated you. You are holding them against the rule, but not holding yourself to it. I see where your logic is coming from. If they have treated you this way, it would follow that's how they want to be treated. But that just isn't how it works. If people have mistreated you they haven't applied the Golden Rule. Simple as that. No person would desire to mistreat themselves. And that's really the point of the Golden Rule.

@midnightrose [quote]But that just isn't how it works[/quote]

I'm pretty sure it is. It's definitely supposed to be. It's written into the rule itself.

You are talking about people who claim to be the most devout and religious. By default, they are following the Golden Rule. As an experiment, ask one of them sometime if they know the Golden Rule and feel they follow it.