Empathy and Sympathy - Some People are Ignorant

It's truly disheartening to feel like you're all alone in the world; that nobody gives a damn about you. That being said, though, I think empathizing with others is not that hard--if we'll only allow ourselves to truly empathize with others. However, empathy seems to be very rare nowadays, if not totally inexistent. In my case, I can easily empathize because I put myself in the shoes of others and I am trying to truly feel what they are feeling. It's really a matter of choice--choosing to care for someone, to understand the current situation/condition of someone, to appreciate the magnitude of the problems of someone, and to try to be that someone, even for just a while. I think many wars could have been prevented and could still be prevented, if we'll all learn to be more sensitive; to sympathize; and, most importantly, to empathize.

that woman really need to learn some manners. if i were you, i would gave her a good slap. empathy and sympathy. it not hard to show sympathy but i tried to avoid empathy. sympathy is the feeling of compassion for another, the wish to see them better off or happier, often described as "feeling sorry" for someone. Empathy is a sense of shared experience, including emotional and physical feelings, with someone or something other than oneself. from young i had always been a good empathizer (i wonder if this word exist), so i cried easily even when seeing someone else getting slapped even when it just a movie scene, because i can imagine the pain and the feeling. as of now, I learn not to show my emotion. I do empathize with others, but i learn not to get my emotion best of me. The reason why i avoid empathy is because it usually not a pleasant emotion. and because of this, i stay away from any sad/tragic material. It hurts when i can feel their pain but i'm incapable of helping them.

I think it is pretty disgusting to make a comment like "better your child than mine". You should keep well clear of that sort of people. They are morons who don't deserve to be given the time of the day. A lot of people will give you sympathy... but not everyone... because there are a lot of people out there who think the world revolve around their miserable little life... and that it is everyone for itself. Now empathy is another story. Everyone has its own problems and own pains. They simply cannot afford the luxury of being in pain for someone else. From a realistic point of view... if people had to feel empathy for all the people in pain... they would end up in a mental institution. At the end of the day... people have to deal with their own pain. They can do that with the support of their family or their faith. If they want to survive... they have to get tough. Worrying about things does not solve anything. Nor does pain or mourning. You have to move on and get past that obstacle.

I hurt when my friends and family hurt. If one of my dear friends calls me and is hurting I usually wind up crying with them. To me to be a true friend that is the way to be. I have heard people tell someone who has lost a loved one "I know how you must be feeling" when in actuality that person has never gone through that situation. When that is the case there is no way you can know how that person is feeling. I haven't lost a child like you have, although my daughter was born with a severe heart problem and we could have lost her, so I don't know how you feel. But I have lost my father, stepfather and my father-in-law, all who were dear to me so anyone who has gone through those situations I can empathise and sympathise with also.

I feel I am good at showing empathy and sympathy. I agree some people are extremely ignorant, and don't seem to even have feelings. I can't believe that woman said that to you, I would have went off on her. That is so cold and uncalled for. It's terrible when the world we are living in seems to have so many cold, miserable, mean people :( I think being able to emphathize with someone else, is something important EVERYONE needs to learn how to do.

Wow swtrose, I am sorry to hear about your daughter and about the insensitivity of this other woman. What a stupid and cruel thing to say. I always try to empathize with others and put myself in their shoes. But in difficult circumstances, I may not know what they are feeling and do not want to come off as being fake or insensititive. I really cannot imagine what someone would be feeling in certain situations(like the loss of a child), and would not want to upset them by trying to imagine their pain.

I like to think that I can "walk in anothers shoes" and empathise with people. The comment you received is dreadful and displays not one shred of human decency and respect. I can't even begin to imagine how hurtful that was to you hun, and for what it's worth, I have a son and can put myself into your shoes and emphasise completely

I know what you mean as I have a daughter of 45 on life support as she is in a Persistent Vegetative State and my family and friends don't even mention her.

Yes, I am able to show both empathy and sympathy....I am so sorry about your daughter! I can not imagine another mother being so uncaring as to say such a horrible thing to you, my friend. I think most people try to be sympathetic to another's pain.....and you are absolutely correct about the difference between the two.....Empathy is much more diffcult for some to be able to express or feel.

Wow, I am sorry that she said that to you, that is horrible. Some people are just mean I guess. I have a hard time with empathy (I am an Aspie) but I can at least empathize when someone is really in pain, and can usually sympathize no matter what and would never say something like that to anyone in a million years. I am sorry that someone so mindlessly said something so cruel and put you through that. What could she have possibly gained from something like that. I can't even understand why someone would want to treat someone grieving in such a way. I am sorry for your loss, and I am sorry that woman gave you such additional pain during it.