Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion

[Hwen Hoshino]

In my experience, claiming "empathy" is a way to force someone else to meet your subjective demands because only you know how you're feeling. How can anyone else possibly say they know better than you how you feel? Like socialist BS where someone else claims they know better than you what you need.

I never claimed i feel other people's feelings better or any nonsense like that. Feelings never mean automatic right for me to demand stuff.

[Martin Hash]

I'm talking about the people who exploit your courtesy. Just another case of how the minority leverage the majority.

[Montegriffo]

"While I may sympathize that you are wholly misguided, I cannot empathize with your Bolshevism, therefore, with some regret, I must discharge this high impact riot baton into your kneecap, but out of compassion for your suffering, I will have you medically evacuated to the aid station at the detention facility, upon clearing the streets of your disorder. Have a nice day."

Ah, I think I understand it now, so whilst I have compassion for your ridiculous fear of those who do not share your views I cannot empathise with your right wing nut job opinions.
Am I getting it right now?

[Hwen Hoshino]

"While I may sympathize that you are wholly misguided, I cannot empathize with your Bolshevism, therefore, with some regret, I must discharge this high impact riot baton into your kneecap, but out of compassion for your suffering, I will have you medically evacuated to the aid station at the detention facility, upon clearing the streets of your disorder. Have a nice day."

Ah, I think I understand it now, so whilst I have compassion for your ridiculous fear of those who do not share your views I cannot empathise with your right wing nut job opinions.
Am I getting it right now?

Keep up thes rhetoric, it worked out great for you.

[MilSpecs]

As I understand it, empathy is sharing in the feelings of others. Sympathy is like compassion, a feeling towards others. Empathy is walking in the other's moccasins. Sympathy or compassion is not walking in those same moccasins, but simply feeling sorry for those that do.

+1
Empathy is knowing how people feel, compassion is not necessarily knowing how they feel but still feeling bad for them.