At work though, the job I've just been doing for the past year, sometimes I liked the misfortune of others. Not in any malicious way, it wasn't that I was happy to see something go wrong for them, more that I was glad that it meant I wasn't the only one who occasionally f***ed up. (It was live telly, so if you made a mistake it was broadcast to 100 million homes around the world.) I used to think, Phew! It's not just me!
Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Age: 44 Gender: Male Posts: 480 Location: England
18 Aug 2008, 4:27 am
I only feel bad if its something I caused. Like maybe me beating them at a game or causing an accident. If im not involved then Its not my fault and means nothing to me.
Joined: 18 May 2008 Age: 47 Gender: Female Posts: 451
18 Aug 2008, 7:27 am
Nope. The only time I care is if its one of my kids, or my husband. Other than that, I tend to find such misfortunes humorous unless its big stuff like death. Though I try to contain my laughter and/or happiness to just when my husband is around. People tend to view that reaction as "cold."
I do feel badly for animal mistreatment, infant mistreatment, and plants dying. (don't ask, it just is.)
Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Age: 66 Gender: Female Posts: 557
18 Aug 2008, 7:37 pm
I have always had classic autism but don't understand when it comes to the suggestion that autistic people don't experience empathy. The only thing I have come up with is that there are dramatic differences between the male and female. However, if a lack of empathy pertains to the self, then yes, I have a lack of empathy. As a child I felt other people's pain as if it were my own. I was always a little perplexed though when it came to myself in that I didn't really feel anything for what was happening to me. I guess it was so bad it was too overwhelming.
Now as an adult and after suffering all manner of whatever, I don't think I have much empathy left for humans. For animals though, it is yet excruciating to witness what they go through and I do experience their pain as my own. I guess I identify with their helplessness to defend themselves. I wish people were more sensitive and not the brutes they mostly are.