tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20403719.post7265641654479706206..comments2023-10-31T06:01:54.153-04:00Comments on Pretty Lady: On EmpathyPretty Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342833918614545778noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20403719.post-90260193429797723722008-03-25T05:14:00.000-04:002008-03-25T05:14:00.000-04:00Chris, living where you do surely plays a part in ...Chris, living where you do surely plays a part in that.<BR/><BR/>If you lived in, say, the Ark-La-Tex area, attitudes toward you might be very different. In fact you may well get sick and tired of everyone gluing you all over with the honey of:<BR/><BR/><I>oh bless your HEAAAAART!</I>; <I>OH you poor THIIIING!</I>; and <I>heh! you're a MESS!</I> (that last one a very special and respectful term of endearment, said quietly and with a little chuckle.)<BR/><BR/>Since you're a white male and therefore Important, these would usually be followed by an offer of a nice cold beer, a stool upon which to rest your feet, and the time of the best fellowship service available at the speaker's favorite church.<BR/><BR/>You might well wish yourself back in the New York metro area, and fast.<BR/><BR/>That's <I>before</I> the testicular cancer, BTW - you get that much on the depression and diabetes alone.khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06430423256832961746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20403719.post-83139187987718986182008-03-21T20:40:00.000-04:002008-03-21T20:40:00.000-04:00Chris, I consider extended, long-term sympathy to ...Chris, I consider extended, long-term sympathy to be an insult, along the lines of pitying the ugly person, instead of admiring their wit and character. It's putting myself above you. I would not presume. <BR/><BR/>Short-term emergency sympathy, such as gasping and tsk-tsking when a person's car breaks down in the cattle chute approaching the Triboro bridge at rush hour, you may have in spades.Pretty Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00342833918614545778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20403719.post-73770176427471027802008-03-21T19:50:00.000-04:002008-03-21T19:50:00.000-04:00So I'm getting' some from you. Not too many other...So I'm getting' some from you. Not too many other people yet, though.Chris Rywalthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15766746064219235983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20403719.post-39525119506979258442008-03-21T01:41:00.000-04:002008-03-21T01:41:00.000-04:00Well, since those are two of my own conditions, y'...Well, since those are two of my own conditions, y'all get both sympathy AND empathy from me.<BR/><BR/>The two really are not mutually exclusive.khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06430423256832961746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20403719.post-4607217012456095432008-03-21T00:39:00.000-04:002008-03-21T00:39:00.000-04:00During my most recent appointment, I told my psych...During my most recent appointment, I told my psychiatrist that I was tired of depression and diabetes, that I wanted a disease, like testicular cancer, where I could get some sympathy.<BR/><BR/>"You don't want sympathy, you want empathy," he told me.<BR/><BR/>"I always get those confused."<BR/><BR/>"Sympathy is one step above apathy."Chris Rywalthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15766746064219235983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20403719.post-69312745984724577132008-03-21T00:13:00.000-04:002008-03-21T00:13:00.000-04:00I am so glad you have the courage to say these tru...I am so glad you have the courage to say these truths out loud.khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06430423256832961746noreply@blogger.com