the empathy divide also encompasses those who can look at a problem happening to other people and see it as a problem, and those who are only capable of seeing something as a problem if it happens to them personally
Increasingly convinced the core divide in humanity is between those who suffer a traumatic, destabilizing event (as we all do) and believe everybody else should have to, too, and those who suffer such an event and hope they are the last person ever to do so.
it’s more than that. there’s an element of misery loves company in “i survived _____ & earned my rights/joy/success; you should have to, too” where i personally would love it if transsexuals of 2073 can’t fathom being mocked, beaten, or murdered for being trans—surviving harm didn’t make me better.
before anyone jumps in—it’s critical to understand history & other situations, but there’s a difference between knowing possible realities & having to endure them oneself.
i would not, for instance, suggest you beat your child because i think *my* abuse gave me a gallows humor folks sometimes like.
I wish i knew how to bridge that gap with people.
I think a big hurdle is that people who are experiencing bad shit somehow deserve it by ways of personal choices (more vocalized reason) or by ways of being part of a certain demographic who has been characterized as bad (more implied reason)
I’ve talked to my parents a bunch about “illegal immigration” and its a big thing for them to say “i came here legally, so should everyone else” and I’m pretty sure everyone would love to come here legally
