Question of the day
Why have we lost compassion for other people that aren't friends and family?
What have been the contributing factors?
What have been the contributing factors?
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
I suspect there have always been people who have had no compassion for others and the advent of social media has enabled them to safely express their misanthropy behind anonymity. Similarly, I know many people who are very empathetic, want to help and understand that the limitations of what they can do personally does not mean they don't care. Most of my closest friends don't 'do' social media, or at least that's what they tell me. I have no way of knowing since this is the only forum I am on.
One of the factors you ask about, I think, is the permission that's been granted by finding other people are as unpleasant as yourself to pile on the invective against people you don't know. It also makes it easier to scapegoat groups for your distress and own failings and bypass the brain when coming up with inhumane 'solutions'. That last word has gained a very negative connotation since it's abhorrent use by a racist regime in days gone by.
One of the factors you ask about, I think, is the permission that's been granted by finding other people are as unpleasant as yourself to pile on the invective against people you don't know. It also makes it easier to scapegoat groups for your distress and own failings and bypass the brain when coming up with inhumane 'solutions'. That last word has gained a very negative connotation since it's abhorrent use by a racist regime in days gone by.
In theory people were more insular before, unaware of others, they had less ways of connecting outside a store, work, church, where there is now many venues for conversation and understanding. We have also become these little nuclear little selves thinking even if we do expressing on social media is the same as connection. If I say skip rope, you remember the activity, it won't be the same as if we played skip rope together, the smiles and laughter and connection found. Well people need more than words on a screen
FoxyGoddess · 51-55, F
@awildsheepschase I love this answer!
It's very true that posting and having conversations on social media feels like connecting but it really isn’t the same as having that person across from you, seeing their expressions and hearing the tones of their voice. We hear what we think their tone is, not necessarily what it is. We read into something depending on our limited perception of what we think that person is communicating. So if we expect a debate, we instantly assume a defensive stance instead of an opening, listening engagement. We don't seem to ask questions that help us divine what their intentions with their comments are. It leads to less understanding instead of more.
It's very true that posting and having conversations on social media feels like connecting but it really isn’t the same as having that person across from you, seeing their expressions and hearing the tones of their voice. We hear what we think their tone is, not necessarily what it is. We read into something depending on our limited perception of what we think that person is communicating. So if we expect a debate, we instantly assume a defensive stance instead of an opening, listening engagement. We don't seem to ask questions that help us divine what their intentions with their comments are. It leads to less understanding instead of more.
@FoxyGoddess and that's if it was something ever we would have found reason to debate. We may have seen the skip rope before without any reason for argument before. Listening engagement is a beautiful idea, and some topics just need to be expressed and open about more than others, especially with those in a relationship. Imagine if your partner was angry with you and said to you, lets not talk and instead we play skip rope?
I will say this though there was probably times with my partners I should have seen play before .. yet I feel online, we become way too much without (often) having any chance of play or understanding we so become a little over the top
I will say this though there was probably times with my partners I should have seen play before .. yet I feel online, we become way too much without (often) having any chance of play or understanding we so become a little over the top
RealRushtunDoll · 18-21, F
bijouxbroussard · F
FoxyGoddess · 51-55, F
@NerdyPotato I would like to believe they learned to be unempathic because that means they can learn how to be so again. It had to start from somewhere. If we can see the things that started that trend, perhaps they can be reversed.