This may get downdooted to oblivion, but I think some of this is human nature. It is abhorrent, and something we need to strive to fix, but it is rather natural for people to think that their own situation is typical – because for them, it is. Every exemplar that a privileged person will have is also a privileged exemplar – until, of course, something like this happens.
And as a further consequence, it is extremely difficult to convince someone that their personal situation is not the norm. Everyone wants to be the main character and ultimately believes that they are.
I get your point, but i think people are not consistent with this. Who gets or doesnt get sympathy is entirely emotional.
Ive had people say that refugees are at fault for not getting their papers in order in time and shut be deportet over it and then go on to talk about how for them as citizens it is impossible with the low staffed and inefficient government offices these days.
They willfully ignore that their problems with the bureaucracy could exist for other people too. And we are not even talking about acknowledgong it to be worse. Just simply transferring their life experience onto other people like you describe.
I don’t think it’s more human mature than the opposite is.
Most of us are capable of reasoning and of empathy. We can hear a doctor say “there’s cases where it’s necessary” and think “yeah, makes sense” or “I trust their expertise”.
Not being able to see past oneself seems like a very limited view. There’s reasons for that of course. but it’s a failure of education and social surroundings. And it’s not inherent.
This may get downdooted to oblivion, but I think some of this is human nature. It is abhorrent, and something we need to strive to fix, but it is rather natural for people to think that their own situation is typical – because for them, it is. Every exemplar that a privileged person will have is also a privileged exemplar – until, of course, something like this happens.
And as a further consequence, it is extremely difficult to convince someone that their personal situation is not the norm. Everyone wants to be the main character and ultimately believes that they are.
Not sure what the solution is.
I get your point, but i think people are not consistent with this. Who gets or doesnt get sympathy is entirely emotional.
Ive had people say that refugees are at fault for not getting their papers in order in time and shut be deportet over it and then go on to talk about how for them as citizens it is impossible with the low staffed and inefficient government offices these days.
They willfully ignore that their problems with the bureaucracy could exist for other people too. And we are not even talking about acknowledgong it to be worse. Just simply transferring their life experience onto other people like you describe.
I don’t think it’s more human mature than the opposite is.
Most of us are capable of reasoning and of empathy. We can hear a doctor say “there’s cases where it’s necessary” and think “yeah, makes sense” or “I trust their expertise”.
Not being able to see past oneself seems like a very limited view. There’s reasons for that of course. but it’s a failure of education and social surroundings. And it’s not inherent.