Empathy exam
Dec. 1st, 2014 11:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cosmolinguistWhen Andrew got home from the cinema, he told me "...and my mental state clearly isn't very good."
Since he didn't elaborate, I wondered how he'd determined this. Then I remembered what he'd been to see, The Muppet Christmas Carol. "Did you cry?"
"Little bit," he said. "When Tiny Tim died."
"Everybody cries at that!" I said. "That's not a sign of a bad mental state!" I mean, I'm not doubting that he is feeling bad, if he says he is. But a few little tears shed at the demise of Tiny Tim aren't themselves a cause for concern. The good that humanity manages to do for itself is often motivated by such tears as those.
Since he didn't elaborate, I wondered how he'd determined this. Then I remembered what he'd been to see, The Muppet Christmas Carol. "Did you cry?"
"Little bit," he said. "When Tiny Tim died."
"Everybody cries at that!" I said. "That's not a sign of a bad mental state!" I mean, I'm not doubting that he is feeling bad, if he says he is. But a few little tears shed at the demise of Tiny Tim aren't themselves a cause for concern. The good that humanity manages to do for itself is often motivated by such tears as those.
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(no subject)
Date: 2014-12-02 01:47 am (UTC)Beautifully put.
Conversley put me in front of an episode of Top Gear and I'll probably cry.
For the species, mind.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-12-02 09:23 am (UTC)