Sympathy differs from empathy in the following ways:
With sympathy, the helper:
Helps within his/her comfort zone
Makes a cursory judgment of the person's needs
Often will get upset when it is explicitly revealed that their help is misguided or unwelcome (after a long buildup)
May feel as if he or she is the 'mentor', or the 'superior'
With empathy, the helper:
Relates to the person on a personal basis
Forms a deep emotional bond with the person on many levels
Learns to see the situation from the person's perspective
Sees the person more as an equal, and 'walks in their shoes'.
The two should not be confused. More often than not, sympathy is the form of 'caring' that is given to those in need, and can be quite misguided, especially in dire situations that most are not used to dealing with. Most therapists, teachers, and unfortunately parents will often give this kind of 'help' to a troubled or very upset person. However, if they were willing to step outside their comfort zones, they could learn how to relate effectively.
Despite these huge differences, many indeed DO confuse the two.
With sympathy, the helper:
Helps within his/her comfort zone
Makes a cursory judgment of the person's needs
Often will get upset when it is explicitly revealed that their help is misguided or unwelcome (after a long buildup)
May feel as if he or she is the 'mentor', or the 'superior'
With empathy, the helper:
Relates to the person on a personal basis
Forms a deep emotional bond with the person on many levels
Learns to see the situation from the person's perspective
Sees the person more as an equal, and 'walks in their shoes'.
The two should not be confused. More often than not, sympathy is the form of 'caring' that is given to those in need, and can be quite misguided, especially in dire situations that most are not used to dealing with. Most therapists, teachers, and unfortunately parents will often give this kind of 'help' to a troubled or very upset person. However, if they were willing to step outside their comfort zones, they could learn how to relate effectively.
Despite these huge differences, many indeed DO confuse the two.
by Shadow Creator December 06, 2007
Get the sympathymug. Extremely overprescribed drug that is commonly handed out like candy. Can provide some 'numbing' effects for some, but corrects no real 'imbalance'. Much of it's 'help' is placebo effect related and it can be dangerous in many instances.
by Shadow Creator September 12, 2007
Get the prozacmug. Corrupt group of dumbshits that pander to the lowest common denominator. The reason that shit bands can make loads of money.
(Girl): OMFG IF PANIK SUKS Y DU THEY MAKE SO MUCH MONEY HAHAHA UR JUST JEALUS
(Guy): Because the music industry is a piece of shit, you fucking cunt.
(Guy): Because the music industry is a piece of shit, you fucking cunt.
by Shadow Creator January 04, 2008
Get the music industrymug. A word hurled both at people who are truly envious of something (often something really stupid) and cynics who don't give a fuck but just like to spite people because said people are dumbasses.
Cynic: Fuck these dumbasses, they're so obsessed with their money and stupid fucking cars.
random dickhead: fuck u ur just jealous nigga
Cynic: No, fuck you, dumbshit. I'm not jealous of your worthless and pathetic lifestyle.
random dickhead: fuck u ur just jealous nigga
Cynic: No, fuck you, dumbshit. I'm not jealous of your worthless and pathetic lifestyle.
by Shadow Creator January 04, 2008
Get the jealousmug. An arbitrarily set 'maximum legal speed of travel' that is almost always disobeyed, except in horrible conditions. However, even then, you'll find some still ignoring it. Nonetheless, only the latter in dangerous, and speed limits serve little purpose aside from bringing in revenue. Used also as an excuse for stupid drivers to be able to stay on the road as long as they 'obey the law'. Remember, speed doesn't kill people, people kill people. Aggressive drivers tend to speed a lot but not all speeders are aggressive. The autobahn in Germany has a lesser accident rate than almost every US highway and this includes many out of country drivers (Austria mostly) that are far more dangerous. Out in the midwest, people are usually more laid back, so they drive closer to the limit (though usually slightly above still).
In the east and west, people are usually going 10-15 above (sometimes more in areas with even lower limits). This is great for city and state coffers because people who are only going 5-10 above the usual traffic speed (often to pass) are ticketed for 20, sometimes 25 over the limit. It's also a very easy way to profile certain groups because everyone is already speeding anyway. Realistic limits, or better yet, no speed limits might cause a few idiots to run off the road, but most slow drivers AND fast drivers go the speed they do because they are not comfortable with any faster. Keep right unless you are passing or have nowhere else to drive.
So, next time you get pulled over, remember that you're just being taxed further. Unless of course, you were weaving through traffic like an asshole and really deserved it. However, most people ticketed are just average Joes attempting to get from point A to point B. There's little evidence that speed limits actually increase 'safety'. The assholes who cut people off and fail to use turn signals are the real danger, not speeders.
Also, 'enforcing' these limits is a waste of time, waste of our money, and a danger to police officers who sit on the median and the drivers who panic when they see them.
In the east and west, people are usually going 10-15 above (sometimes more in areas with even lower limits). This is great for city and state coffers because people who are only going 5-10 above the usual traffic speed (often to pass) are ticketed for 20, sometimes 25 over the limit. It's also a very easy way to profile certain groups because everyone is already speeding anyway. Realistic limits, or better yet, no speed limits might cause a few idiots to run off the road, but most slow drivers AND fast drivers go the speed they do because they are not comfortable with any faster. Keep right unless you are passing or have nowhere else to drive.
So, next time you get pulled over, remember that you're just being taxed further. Unless of course, you were weaving through traffic like an asshole and really deserved it. However, most people ticketed are just average Joes attempting to get from point A to point B. There's little evidence that speed limits actually increase 'safety'. The assholes who cut people off and fail to use turn signals are the real danger, not speeders.
Also, 'enforcing' these limits is a waste of time, waste of our money, and a danger to police officers who sit on the median and the drivers who panic when they see them.
I went the speed limit because it was pouring rain.
50 mph? What the fuck? Should be more like 75 mph, AT LEAST.
50 mph? What the fuck? Should be more like 75 mph, AT LEAST.
by Shadow Creator January 11, 2008
Get the speed limitmug. Lacking in knowledge, awareness, empathy, and wisdom. Can apply to anyone, regardless of political affiliation. Contrary to popular belief, it is a very broad state of mind, not largely dependent on one's specific views on a subject. Despite this larger meaning, this word is usually hurled towards others by people who are also ignorant who happen to be upset by something someone said.
by Shadow Creator January 11, 2008
Get the ignorantmug. 80% of the time: An average guy on a slight power trip just doing what he told to do and wasting other peoples' time. Cops are usually trained to think that they're 'better' than citizens. Can commonly be found writing tickets, drinking coffee, and eating donuts. Perhaps sometimes they break up parties, pull over someone for DUI, or something similar. Not very adept at thinking, though. In really dangerous areas however, cops are usually bigger jackasses, but for once they're doing something useful (i.e. their JOBS.)
18% of the time: A jackass on a huge power trip that uses his enforcement powers to indirectly invoke a silly measuring contest. These guys (or also women, because female cops from my observations tend to be huge bitches with a need to act tough) feel good from humiliating people, using the maximum amount of force necessary, acting superior, etc. Tends to be the kind with a huge ego who bullied/was bullied in school and is trying to make up for it.
2% of the time: Good, hardworking people who reluctantly enforce stupid laws as little as possible while taking true violent offenders off the street. Usually pretty nice to ordinary people and good at diffusing situations.
18% of the time: A jackass on a huge power trip that uses his enforcement powers to indirectly invoke a silly measuring contest. These guys (or also women, because female cops from my observations tend to be huge bitches with a need to act tough) feel good from humiliating people, using the maximum amount of force necessary, acting superior, etc. Tends to be the kind with a huge ego who bullied/was bullied in school and is trying to make up for it.
2% of the time: Good, hardworking people who reluctantly enforce stupid laws as little as possible while taking true violent offenders off the street. Usually pretty nice to ordinary people and good at diffusing situations.
Most cops are kind of lame, but not too horrible, a good portion are complete jackasses, and a few are worthy people. Sounds like most of society.
by shadow creator February 15, 2008
Get the copmug.