Empathy

You know what really sucks? Empathy, it’ll screw you up.

If you feel bad for people, you’ll find yourself getting mad about things that really don’t concern you.

Picture this (real situation with names removed for anonymity): Friend A insults friend B using an ethnic slur. Friend B slaps friend A for using the ethnic slur. Friend A gets an in-school suspension (and thus missing a school trip) and friend B gets off scot free. Keep in mind that Friend A spent his day organizing the shed that the disorganized rabble of students (and teachers) messed up. As a side note, the shed looks better then it ever has-kudos to you, friend A!

Now I don’t believe it is ever right to call someone a slur (in this case, Gay Bashing). Nor do I believe it is right to slap someone (clue me in-when was assault legalized)? I believe Friend A should have still gotten his suspension, but so should have Friend B. Neither offense is legal.

It’s things like this that really tend to annoy me. It’s a damn misinterpretation of justice!

Now I don’t pretend that I know every single detail (though I am privy to many of the details through first and third person accounts), and it can’t help that I’m tired. Nor I’d wager does a pulled muscle in my chest keep me in the sanest frame of mind.

Now, because I am friends with both Friend A, and Friend B, I find myself mad at Friend B for getting off without penalty and feeling bad that all the blame (at least from my third person viewpoint) seems to be getting piled on Mr. A.

I know that it isn’t any of my business (couldn’t bring myself to even squeeze a ‘really’ in there) but, it just really rubs me the wrong way when I see a flaw in a system.

If everyone thought with empathy, it would become an ironic and awful way of looking at everything. Every case would go to the Supreme Court, where they would merely get a slap on the wrist, as keeping par with the empathy theme. Irony sucks too.

Have I descended into paranoid schizophrenia yet? Au revoir my adoring fans. If you are one of the millions in the blogosphere who may or may not ever read this (procrastination kills), disregard all I’ve written if you wish. Sip your coffee, finish your Merlot. I’m merely another nut in New Jersey. However, if you are one of the people with whom I do in fact take the time to know personally, I’d hope you’re not that stupid. Tune in next time for whatever I feel so inclined to write.