I'm so glad that you were there and had the sense to do what you did. Thank you to your paramedic husband we don't all have professionals and you were very lucky to have him there. Thank you so much for your kindness and for your helpfulness to others. It is a sad thing that is getting worse in the United States. We used to be a caring country but ever since Trump kindness has given way to evil and just sheer neglect. My best to you and your family!
“Misplaced my filter.” I threw mine out years ago. One of my favorite things about aging, I say exactly what I mean. And I don’t understand people who walk past when somebody else is struggling.
Ain’t no one gonna stand in our way, that’s for sure. Yesterday I took a first aid training on how to stop bleeding
in emergencies - gunshots, stabbing, bone fractures and so on. Just because. Because I wanna be able to help if it
comes up, and the way things are going it comes up more and more in public situations. On the June 14 No Kings rallies, some guy had made up a chant that included the word Bitch to describe Trump. I made my way over and said hey buddy thanks for the chant. Do you think we could take the word bitch out of it cause it’s offensive to the ladies. And he did.
As I often watch people from the car as my wife is in the store I observe selfish fools like the Blonde Bob! There is not cost for compassion or being helpful. I saw my sister hit the deck with heat stroke years ago, it is life threatening and nothing to make light of! Thanks for calling that bitch out!
You are right and it’s not only in Missouri. But that said, don’t lose faith. There are a lot more kind and empathetic people than there are assholes. We are just now trained to notice the assholes first. I taught for 37 years before retiring and it was always the negative comments as few as they were over the years, that I absorbed. I knew that they were the anomaly. But I focused more on those than the strings of uplifting comments. What’s my point? People with empathy always want to do and be better. We are sensitive to the needs of others and we literally live our lives to serve. As a result we don’t suffer selfishness or disrespect very well. You are a good and caring person. Leave it right there. ❤️
You can’t teach empathy. You either have it or you don’t and thank God you have it to support that poor woman. We never would’ve known how many people lack that empathy before the 🍊felon came on the scene. Apparently, there are legions of them. ⚔️
There are many articles that say you can teach empathy from learned sources, like Psychology Today. There’s even an AI version which gives examples of the steps to take if you want to learn. But back to my point…you have to CARE enough about people and their plight to attempt to learn how to be empathic. It’s not automatic in people like BB. Do you think she would take the time to learn? I think not.
While at the most recent protest, I was hot and was trying to get a hat out of my bag. While doing it, I dropped a mirror compact. I was trying to bend down to get it while not falling on the curb, and a polite person helped me. A few seconds later I was putting it back and missed the opening and dropped it again. Another person on the other side helped me get it.
Of course people at these protest are very kind and considerate to others. But it also feels good that in my new part of the country, people tend to be very helpful and kind to one another. It gives me a lot of hope and the ability to relax a bit.
After having a romantic dinner in New Orleans my husband & I were strolling down crowded Bourbon St. Suddenly 4-5 rows of pedestrians ahead of us split apart like the Red Sea to avoid tripping over a man who had crumpled, unconscious to the sidewalk. Dozens of people passed by him with no one checking on him. I’m a nurse who can do CPR so I hurried to reach him in case it was needed. Just as I began to kneel my husband jerked me up and away from the guy saying “Don’t touch him! He’s probably just falling-down drunk, but if he’s sick, ya don’t want to get infected.” Annoyed, I pulled away from my husband and looked at the man long enough to see if he was breathing. A few yards ahead we found a police officer coming out of a shop and told him about the fallen man. We did see an ambulance going toward him minutes later. My husband does show empathy often, but I wasn’t seeing it in him or dozens of passersby that night. I stayed annoyed for the rest of the evening thinking it would be a real shame if a person having a heart attack, diabetic coma, etc were left on a sidewalk to die because people didn’t care or were in too big of a hurry to get to their dining or bar-hopping.
I get that instinct, backing away (germs, possible vomit, it’s New Orleans, for goodness’ sakes) but I want a world where we cannot resist the pull to help. I’m with you.
After church on Sunday I had an interesting exchange with a congregant about lack of civility and empathy. We ended up thinking that it was a good thing that some of us are still alive who remember, and have experienced, different times. We have experience with a loyal opposition, for instance. We wondered about how (or even if) we could reclaim that when there is now a generation which has no such experience.
If you check gun violence statistics you see there is always an uptick when the temperature rises. None of us is at his or her best. That having been said, you are right that empathy is in short supply around here no matter the weather.
You don’t sound that way at all. It is shocking to come across people whose hearts are stunted. At least it always shocks me how little empathy is to be found out there. I didn’t hear bragging, I heard shock and disbelief.
In situations like this, you instinctively snap right into action to help. BB (& people like her) are all about, "how does this affect me?" Coming accross someone like that face-to-face can be shocking and enraging. At the time, dealing with the issue at hand comes first.
The attitude that other people's suffering is acceptable and one's own inconvenience is not is exactly what we see from the MAGA supporters. You may have been angry at BB, but you were likely angry about the entire MAGA mindset that has been amplified and used by the fellon and his followers. It's ugly and not representative of the kind of compassionate, supportive society we want or want for the next generations. All that to say, maybe she represented bigger things. I'd be stewing about it, too.
As someone else pointed out, there were more "Team Susan type" helpers than "Team BB type" complainers. So, that maybe is hopeful.
There really are more people who want to help and I have been the beneficiary of that kind of help multiple times. So I owe, I owe, and I owe until the day I die. These other folks? May not ever learn.
Thank you on behalf of the cashier— and also of the people who learned from you that your appropriate behavior is possible. Both big gifts, and I hope they spread.
Same. And have seldom been offered help. A food delivery driver once walked past me (sitting on the curb after a fall) TO MY OWN PORCH, left my order, and drove away without ever making eye contact.
I am an Empathic person and that makes it hard to survive in this current political environment. I am in complete agreement with you - I try to just be kind to everyone that I meet but sadly that is not what is valued today my many people! But you will continue to be kind and that is appreciated by many!!😄
I am glad you had no filter with Blonde Bob. Her behavior, to say the least was cruel and insensitive. And right on to you for dropping your filter and giving it to her with both barrels.
Empathy. Perhaps the thing missing most in this new MAGA era. And many of these people call themselves “Christians.” 🤣😢
Blonde Bob was lucky my husband was there to talk me down. I call myself a Christian, too, but in instances like this, I'm no better than the MAGAts.
I'm so glad that you were there and had the sense to do what you did. Thank you to your paramedic husband we don't all have professionals and you were very lucky to have him there. Thank you so much for your kindness and for your helpfulness to others. It is a sad thing that is getting worse in the United States. We used to be a caring country but ever since Trump kindness has given way to evil and just sheer neglect. My best to you and your family!
“Misplaced my filter.” I threw mine out years ago. One of my favorite things about aging, I say exactly what I mean. And I don’t understand people who walk past when somebody else is struggling.
We would make a great team.
Ain’t no one gonna stand in our way, that’s for sure. Yesterday I took a first aid training on how to stop bleeding
in emergencies - gunshots, stabbing, bone fractures and so on. Just because. Because I wanna be able to help if it
comes up, and the way things are going it comes up more and more in public situations. On the June 14 No Kings rallies, some guy had made up a chant that included the word Bitch to describe Trump. I made my way over and said hey buddy thanks for the chant. Do you think we could take the word bitch out of it cause it’s offensive to the ladies. And he did.
As I often watch people from the car as my wife is in the store I observe selfish fools like the Blonde Bob! There is not cost for compassion or being helpful. I saw my sister hit the deck with heat stroke years ago, it is life threatening and nothing to make light of! Thanks for calling that bitch out!
I doubt she understood why I was so mean and I didn't want to take time to explain myself.
If there is any hope for us, it is in empathy and compassion. Thank you for reminding us.
You are right and it’s not only in Missouri. But that said, don’t lose faith. There are a lot more kind and empathetic people than there are assholes. We are just now trained to notice the assholes first. I taught for 37 years before retiring and it was always the negative comments as few as they were over the years, that I absorbed. I knew that they were the anomaly. But I focused more on those than the strings of uplifting comments. What’s my point? People with empathy always want to do and be better. We are sensitive to the needs of others and we literally live our lives to serve. As a result we don’t suffer selfishness or disrespect very well. You are a good and caring person. Leave it right there. ❤️
I believe you've handed me a gift with this and thank you.
You can’t teach empathy. You either have it or you don’t and thank God you have it to support that poor woman. We never would’ve known how many people lack that empathy before the 🍊felon came on the scene. Apparently, there are legions of them. ⚔️
Is that true? That you can’t teach it?
There are many articles that say you can teach empathy from learned sources, like Psychology Today. There’s even an AI version which gives examples of the steps to take if you want to learn. But back to my point…you have to CARE enough about people and their plight to attempt to learn how to be empathic. It’s not automatic in people like BB. Do you think she would take the time to learn? I think not.
Probably not.
Empathy, compassion and common sense - all in very short supply and cannot be purchased.
While at the most recent protest, I was hot and was trying to get a hat out of my bag. While doing it, I dropped a mirror compact. I was trying to bend down to get it while not falling on the curb, and a polite person helped me. A few seconds later I was putting it back and missed the opening and dropped it again. Another person on the other side helped me get it.
Of course people at these protest are very kind and considerate to others. But it also feels good that in my new part of the country, people tend to be very helpful and kind to one another. It gives me a lot of hope and the ability to relax a bit.
That’s such a small and beautiful thing. People looking out for one another.
After having a romantic dinner in New Orleans my husband & I were strolling down crowded Bourbon St. Suddenly 4-5 rows of pedestrians ahead of us split apart like the Red Sea to avoid tripping over a man who had crumpled, unconscious to the sidewalk. Dozens of people passed by him with no one checking on him. I’m a nurse who can do CPR so I hurried to reach him in case it was needed. Just as I began to kneel my husband jerked me up and away from the guy saying “Don’t touch him! He’s probably just falling-down drunk, but if he’s sick, ya don’t want to get infected.” Annoyed, I pulled away from my husband and looked at the man long enough to see if he was breathing. A few yards ahead we found a police officer coming out of a shop and told him about the fallen man. We did see an ambulance going toward him minutes later. My husband does show empathy often, but I wasn’t seeing it in him or dozens of passersby that night. I stayed annoyed for the rest of the evening thinking it would be a real shame if a person having a heart attack, diabetic coma, etc were left on a sidewalk to die because people didn’t care or were in too big of a hurry to get to their dining or bar-hopping.
I get that instinct, backing away (germs, possible vomit, it’s New Orleans, for goodness’ sakes) but I want a world where we cannot resist the pull to help. I’m with you.
After church on Sunday I had an interesting exchange with a congregant about lack of civility and empathy. We ended up thinking that it was a good thing that some of us are still alive who remember, and have experienced, different times. We have experience with a loyal opposition, for instance. We wondered about how (or even if) we could reclaim that when there is now a generation which has no such experience.
I meet college students every day who know how to act with empathy. It gives me hope.
If you check gun violence statistics you see there is always an uptick when the temperature rises. None of us is at his or her best. That having been said, you are right that empathy is in short supply around here no matter the weather.
This is true. This lack of empathy isn't weather-related. It's bone-deep.
I am glad you were there for her, as I am glad you were there for the young woman at the No Kings protest. And I agree about empathy.
I sound like I'm bragging and I don't mean to, but is it really that challenging to reach out?
You don’t sound that way at all. It is shocking to come across people whose hearts are stunted. At least it always shocks me how little empathy is to be found out there. I didn’t hear bragging, I heard shock and disbelief.
In situations like this, you instinctively snap right into action to help. BB (& people like her) are all about, "how does this affect me?" Coming accross someone like that face-to-face can be shocking and enraging. At the time, dealing with the issue at hand comes first.
The attitude that other people's suffering is acceptable and one's own inconvenience is not is exactly what we see from the MAGA supporters. You may have been angry at BB, but you were likely angry about the entire MAGA mindset that has been amplified and used by the fellon and his followers. It's ugly and not representative of the kind of compassionate, supportive society we want or want for the next generations. All that to say, maybe she represented bigger things. I'd be stewing about it, too.
As someone else pointed out, there were more "Team Susan type" helpers than "Team BB type" complainers. So, that maybe is hopeful.
There really are more people who want to help and I have been the beneficiary of that kind of help multiple times. So I owe, I owe, and I owe until the day I die. These other folks? May not ever learn.
Yeah. I think some are hard coded to be self serving and mean, and they don't mesh well with the rest of us.
That’s an ugly world they’ve created for themselves.
I was yelling about it all the way home, which made for a lovely drive trough the CT country. I'm lying about the lovely drive part.
lol!
Yes, I got that.
Thank you on behalf of the cashier— and also of the people who learned from you that your appropriate behavior is possible. Both big gifts, and I hope they spread.
I am not surprised I have poor balance due to my disability. I have fallen down in public a number of times. Most times no one offers to help me.
:(
Same. And have seldom been offered help. A food delivery driver once walked past me (sitting on the curb after a fall) TO MY OWN PORCH, left my order, and drove away without ever making eye contact.
:(
I am an Empathic person and that makes it hard to survive in this current political environment. I am in complete agreement with you - I try to just be kind to everyone that I meet but sadly that is not what is valued today my many people! But you will continue to be kind and that is appreciated by many!!😄
I am glad you had no filter with Blonde Bob. Her behavior, to say the least was cruel and insensitive. And right on to you for dropping your filter and giving it to her with both barrels.