1 definition by lavendercat

Pity culture is where people with a nice lifestyle feel sorry for people without that lifestyle and imagine them to be suffering as a result. This in turn makes them feel guilty and they spend lots of time telling other people how awful it is for those people, to ease their guilt and make them feel noble.

They are easily manipulated by articles in the newspaper, which feed on their guilt, and give them a sense of power in their lives as they decide which brand of coffee to buy accordingly. They often have little idea beyond this about the lives of those involved.
"You shouldn't buy that brand of toilet paper ! I saw an article last night about how the people who make it are treated badly !"

"Hey, that paper is manipulating you through pity culture ! Maybe they have a deal with the rival brand of loo roll !"
by lavendercat June 29, 2006
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