(04-18-2019 06:42 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote:  

(04-17-2019 08:29 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  

(04-17-2019 11:23 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  I think those surveys could be hogwash. I think people today are much more involuntarily tolerant of all kinds of degenerate behavior.

FIFY. Empathy is a hard ideal to reach when every special interest and degenerate behavior is awarded victimization status, and then those awarded such status feel entitled to parade around and claim faux outrage at the most minute perceived social aggressions perceived against them .

I would also add that empathy and people being empathetic takes a severe hit when they see others blatantly cheating and gaming the system.

I find it hard to empathize with people who claim they "just can't afford" food that put groceries they just bought on the EBT card into their $50k SUV. I find it hard to empathize with people who claim they "just can't afford" health insurance then go on Medicaid only to sit in the bar and drink & smoke all weekend. I find it hard to empathize with people who collect welfare benefits that have nicer things than I do when I'm the one who goes to work everyday. Thing is I actually know people who fall into those categories and I'd bet that most of us do as well.

Are there people who legitimately need these benefits? Sure, but I find it hard to empathize when there's just as many people who DON'T need it collecting.

See enough of it and eventually you fall into the "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" faction.

Excellent observation, I do indeed know people like those you've described. I know one guy who was an accomplished tool and die guy who taught himself how to run CAD/CAM applications , something that takes some degree of intelligence, who simply quit his job one day and now works for 10 bucks an hour - cash - selling CBD Oil in a local mall and collects 500 bucks a month in food stamps. When you talk to him he evokes sympathy and I suppose empathy until he's gone and you reconsider his words. He's adopted a victim mentality. Oh, and he calls himself a republican.