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Just a reminder that empathy is not sympathy or compassion.
"Expressing empathy" is a very strange idea to me because when you get to the point of expression, it's not empathy.
"Expressing empathy" is a very strange idea to me because when you get to the point of expression, it's not empathy.
Empathy is such a problematic word because it's just almost impossible to get a single definition of it.
It's kind of like "intelligence" that way.
It's kind of like "intelligence" that way.
This is a major reason why I have such a problem with people just throwing around the word "empathy". https://twitter.com/QueerlyAutistic/status/1328094231936839687
I've read at least four different definitions of "empathy" by commenters on this thread in the nine hours since I wrote it.
If words are meant to facilitate effective communication, "empathy" is a word you should just avoid using outside of specific situations.
If words are meant to facilitate effective communication, "empathy" is a word you should just avoid using outside of specific situations.
Unless you have a prior agreed-upon definition of empathy with everyone in a conversation, don't assume your audience knows what you mean when you say "empathy".
Also, FYI, if there's no common understanding of "empathy", we certainly can't suggest "empathy" is a major important human thing.
If you want to talk about what's important in people, don't use "empathy" as a shorthand.
Because I guarantee you, your audience does not all agree with you on the basic premise of the meaning of the word.
Because I guarantee you, your audience does not all agree with you on the basic premise of the meaning of the word.
The words I like to talk about are decency, choice, values and justice.
If you value justice, you make choices to be a decent person, regardless of what you're feeling.
If you value justice, you make choices to be a decent person, regardless of what you're feeling.
If you have to feel the right thing to do the right thing, I consider you suspect and generally dangerous.
I have a lot of writing about empathy including my own theory(ies?) of what it is, but since I can't test my theories, I think the best, easiest way to move forward is just to get the word out of common discourse.
Because it creates confusion and contributes to injustice.
Because it creates confusion and contributes to injustice.
If you're unfamiliar with the injustice part of it, I'd like to point you to neurodivergent people who are maligned as "lacking empathy" and treated as inhuman and/or dangerous.
Despite the fact that, as has been said, there isn't a common understanding of this concept.
Despite the fact that, as has been said, there isn't a common understanding of this concept.
