Less than 10 days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, the state is bracing for another potentially devastating blow from a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, this one a potential Category 3 storm.
… no I want you to have empathy for people who just lost their homes. It’s OK though. I have no problem letting you go off in your hate filled tizzy. I know nothing I do or say can get through to you. We will see you on the otherside, though. When the, “it could never happen to me” turns into “why doesn’t anyone care?”
You’re right about empathy, and I have plenty of it for the people who didn’t actively choose this. But for those who are talking about rebuilding their home for the third time in a zone most prone to these disasters and simultaneously denying climate change (likely voting for reps who shoot down mitigating measures)? No, they can get fucked. They’re hurting all of us through their wilful ignorance.
Well, no… It’s not hate. It’s apathy. I expended a lot of psychic energy caring over the years and dreading this exact outcome. I stopped eating meat. I didn’t own a car. Then these folks elected Donald Trump. Idk man. Maybe we aren’t meant to help these creatures. Maybe it’s just FAFO.
True, I don’t like it when animals suffer. So there’s a bit of a paradox at play here. To the extent that they are animals, I do not wish them to suffer. But to the extent that they are rational creatures, or persons, then their choices were evil and they deserve to suffer. So the only way that I can feel pity for them is to strip them of their rational autonomy and personhood and treat them as mere animals (granting them pity).
Is that what you think I should do? Regard 80% of humanity as little more than amoral apes with a tenuous grasp of language? Well, that might be the truth.
It’s the ability to say, if this were me this would suck. If this were me I would be devastated and even though the consequences are of my own making I wouldn’t mind if someone lent me a hand.
… no I want you to have empathy for people who just lost their homes. It’s OK though. I have no problem letting you go off in your hate filled tizzy. I know nothing I do or say can get through to you. We will see you on the otherside, though. When the, “it could never happen to me” turns into “why doesn’t anyone care?”
You’re right about empathy, and I have plenty of it for the people who didn’t actively choose this. But for those who are talking about rebuilding their home for the third time in a zone most prone to these disasters and simultaneously denying climate change (likely voting for reps who shoot down mitigating measures)? No, they can get fucked. They’re hurting all of us through their wilful ignorance.
I can agree with that.
Well, no… It’s not hate. It’s apathy. I expended a lot of psychic energy caring over the years and dreading this exact outcome. I stopped eating meat. I didn’t own a car. Then these folks elected Donald Trump. Idk man. Maybe we aren’t meant to help these creatures. Maybe it’s just FAFO.
It’s OK to have empathy for people who fuck around. I mean they got their just desserts. No need to kick them while they are down.
True, I don’t like it when animals suffer. So there’s a bit of a paradox at play here. To the extent that they are animals, I do not wish them to suffer. But to the extent that they are rational creatures, or persons, then their choices were evil and they deserve to suffer. So the only way that I can feel pity for them is to strip them of their rational autonomy and personhood and treat them as mere animals (granting them pity).
Is that what you think I should do? Regard 80% of humanity as little more than amoral apes with a tenuous grasp of language? Well, that might be the truth.
That is not at all what I suggest. You sir, are being difficult.
deleted by creator
Thanks for this not insightful look into mental gymnastics.
I think my argument is fairly solid. Your demand for pity pretty much requires me to treat them like helpless animals.
I’m open to change my mind on this.
It’s not pity. It’s empathy. It’s what you lack.
It’s the ability to say, if this were me this would suck. If this were me I would be devastated and even though the consequences are of my own making I wouldn’t mind if someone lent me a hand.