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If someone is a really bad person, do you feel absolutely no sympathy for them no matter how much they suffered? Like for example if a murderer or a rapist or a pedophile or Bernie Madoff had cancer and were screaming in pain would you feel absolutely nothing for them? Or would you still have an empathetic response despite your loathing of them and their deeds?
Does your empathy only apply to "good people" and can you shut it off for certain unsavory types?
Selectively sociopathic. Hmmm. Never thought of it that way, but, I guess I am. There have been a couple people I have seen either go out VERY bad, or are maimed, permanently, that I felt zero empathy for. Only pure, raw hatred. It's kinda scary, in a way, knowing that side of yourself. It's a demon I prefer stay chained. The couple of times that he got loose, does not make me proud, but, neither do I feel shame. The vermin in question, got what was due them.
The selectively sociopathic label, is rather creative. I suppose it's an appropriate term. As I understand sociopathology, it is a complete lack of conscience or emotion. And, I did feel something at the culmination of two, particular, varmints cumupence. But it was NOT empathy. More like a deep satisfaction, coupled with a sort of ...regret...that I didn't get to hand them their fate, personally.
"Selectively Sociopathic"? What does that even mean? If anything, selectively empathetic would be closer to what you're conveying. "Selectively sociopathic" makes it sound like you're only a serial killer when the mood hits you...
If someone is a really bad person, do you feel absolutely no sympathy for them no matter how much they suffered? Like for example if a murderer or a rapist or a pedophile or Bernie Madoff had cancer and were screaming in pain would you feel absolutely nothing for them? Or would you still have an empathetic response despite your loathing of them and their deeds?
Does your empathy only apply to "good people" and can you shut it off for certain unsavory types?
I think that if we took pedophiles etc. and subjected them to public execution by scaphism (ancient persian punishment takes a few weeks to die horribly...kinda makes crucifying look humane) that many of the remaining pedos etc. would suddenly find more "self control" because sociopaths do care about themselves.
I give this far end example for the following reason.....
If horrific punishment to horrible individuals would prevent horrific things from happening to innocents would that mean that some people in society would rather not experience the personal discomfort of knowing such punishments are carried out? They would rather have horrible things happen to others than have that discomfort....would that not make them sociopathic to some extent or is it just deep denial?
I think you see this a lot from people that live a nice life, in a safe place and haven't had to deal with these issues. I think if you speak to child services workers, police etc. that have to deal with some of this wreckage you might get a different answer.
I feel that I have a limited amount of empathy. What I mean is that I can't feel the pain for every human in the world - I'd be crushed by it. I do feel that some people are more "deserving" of empathy than others - for instance, I feel much more empathy for say, someone who is the victim of a drunk driver and who is severely injured - than someone who CHOOSES to try to climb Mt Everest and who gets stuck on a tiny ridge for 25 days. I mean - one person was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time while the other person CHOSE to take ridiculous risks.
Karma Karma.
I don't feel that this attitude is "selectively sociopathic" however. I refuse to take on that label.
Yeah, I'd have to say I have a similar view as you. As for the OP's reference to Bernie Madoff, and feeling empathy for him, when he ripped people off and stole their life savings....well, the only empathy that I have for him is.... may God have mercy on his soul. As you alluded to.... KARMA! And it can be a b***!
Punishment exists first and foremost to prevent the victim from taking revenge. Such things often lead to blood feuds and threaten order. While protecting the general public and lastly the criminal themself is also part of the reason the main reason we have a justice system is to appease the victim and public's need for revenge.
LOL I don't see it that way at all. I see the need for the justice system and punishment for crimes to be directly tied to protecting society at large.
I think that if we took pedophiles etc. and subjected them to public execution by scaphism (ancient persian punishment takes a few weeks to die horribly...kinda makes crucifying look humane) that many of the remaining pedos etc. would suddenly find more "self control" because sociopaths do care about themselves.
I give this far end example for the following reason.....
If horrific punishment to horrible individuals would prevent horrific things from happening to innocents would that mean that some people in society would rather not experience the personal discomfort of knowing such punishments are carried out? They would rather have horrible things happen to others than have that discomfort....would that not make them sociopathic to some extent or is it just deep denial?
I think you see this a lot from people that live a nice life, in a safe place and haven't had to deal with these issues. I think if you speak to child services workers, police etc. that have to deal with some of this wreckage you might get a different answer.
What about the falsely accused?
The only thing having a government that engages in torture as a regular course of action accomplishes is creating a culture that treats the pain of others as entertainment. Besides, look at places like Saudi Arabia and Iran, where an eye-for-an-eye, mutilation, and public execution exist, there is still murder, pedophilia, and rape.
And I have dealt with the wreckage. No, thanks. It won't fix the problem and it will debase the rest of society.
If someone is a really bad person, do you feel absolutely no sympathy for them no matter how much they suffered? Like for example if a murderer or a rapist or a pedophile or Bernie Madoff had cancer and were screaming in pain would you feel absolutely nothing for them? Or would you still have an empathetic response despite your loathing of them and their deeds?
Does your empathy only apply to "good people" and can you shut it off for certain unsavory types?
No. I am an equal opportunity sociopath. I give a tinker's damn about everyone equally.
My empathy is fair and balanced, I weigh the evidence and if you deserve empathy you get it if you don't you don't get squat.
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