Katie, you are such a good writer, but it's not just the tech side.
You talk about the maxims I find so important and critical to inner peace, which I feel deeply begets outer peace.
Sometimes I think I AM going crazy. That's not hyperbole. I think something is wrong with me for FEELING, because everyone around me chooses vitriolic anger and baleful pride. Friends, family, etc. They have chosen to forgo empathy and introspection.
And when I read your articles, that feeling of insanity subsides, sometimes for a long while.
So you have my deepest thanks for that. It's a gift I do not take for granted.
Really kind, and so meaningful to hear, thank you. And I'm right there with you. I try to treat feeling those swells, however inconvenient, as a reminder that I'm engaged, still knee deep in the world. They help me write, and I'm sure there's something they help you with, even if it's giving people grace.
Ms. Heindl, Thanks for making empathy central to your article on Joel Embiid's recent knee injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the season. As you rightfully inferred, empathy is the soul of democratic institutions. Without it, democracy makes no sense, and without empathy, the protection and empowerment of all Americans' civil and human rights and freedoms makes no sense. Likewise, empathy is the soul of ethical businesses, which protect and empower their wealth creators (employees and customers). Full disclosure for me, billionaires including team owners, run and ruin our lives. I do not see the 76ers owners standing up against the Destruction Of Government by Elon, but I digress.
Nevertheless, I truly appreciate your focus on empathy in this piece because the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 27 - https://proempathy.us/76udhr20 - proclaims we all have "the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community." Moreover, the second part of Article 27 declares that "everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any ... artistic production of which he is the author." And indeed, Embiid's athletic prowess is an art worth preserving as long as possible! #GoEmpathySurplus
I agree that empathy isn't a finite resource, but it's also not unconditional. You need to be willing and able to imagine yourself in someone else's situation to feel real empathy for them.
I think the lack of empathy for athletes is a good example of people not being "able" to do that; NBA players are giant, talented millionaires. It's hard to imagine yourself being able to do what they can do because few people can do that; to understand how much time and energy goes into their preparation because most of us are too busy taking care of our basic needs to imagine having those resources; to understand the dedication from people who make enough money in one season for most of us to retire on.
I think the lack of enough for people suffering around the world is when people aren't "willing". Imagining your family dying, your home being destroyed, is awful. It's our responsibility to do that, but nobody can make anyone do it, and when we as individuals can't do anything to stop this suffering in the short term, you get people turning the empathy off. And once you do it and make peace with that, it's pretty easy to do it again, and again.
Re: Embiid though - empathy isn't finite but it's also not free. It takes energy, and people aren't infinite wells of energy. As a result people often become "suspicious" of others who seem to demand too much empathy, and might try to find reasons to justify it not being deserved. It's also why we all owe it to each other to be responsible and not get ourselves into unnecessary trouble. I think with Embiid you have someone who has had a lot to empathize with, and also has made some short sighted decisions in light of his injury history, and that's a recipe for cold-heartedness
Pretty condescending response Ronny. I didn't miss the point at all. I have a great deal of empathy for people that need and deserve it. I'll give my empathy to pro athlete's in the case of the loss of a loved one for example. In the case of Embid the narrative is we should feel sorry for him because he can't play a game and is getting some critical reviews but will still collect millions of dollars....... Sorry no sympathy from me. If he was someone who contributed to those in need, relative to his level of wealth I would probably feel differently.
Sympathy isn't empathy, and we'll have to agree to disagree on this one because as the entire premise of this piece is predicated on, the quality of empathy I write about being in short supply is the kind not contingent on another person's output.
Perhaps the lack of empathy from the "common man" relates to the unimaginable amounts of money they earn and the privileged lifestyle. Example, for the common working person, if they suffer an injury that prevents them from working for a few months, much less a year or two, they most likely lose their job and income. Mr Embid will continue earning his tens of millions, get the best medical care available free of charge. And God forbid he can no longer play, the remainder oh his contract or a lage chunk of it will still be paid out. And with the rare exceptions like a Dikembe Motumbo or Manute Bol, they contribute nothing back to the society they live in. Do I feel sorry for Joel Embid? Not in the slightest.
I think you may have missed the point of this piece - although you may simply disagree, which is your right. Empathy doesn’t need to be finite. Of course the average worker doesn’t have a small fraction of the advantages that an elite athlete like Embiid benefits from. But he’s still a human being. He feels pain. As a competitor - and he must be a competitor to get to where he’s gotten - it must be incredibly frustrating not to be able physically to perform at the level that he needs to. You can ignore him completely - he’s a stranger to you (as he is to me), and there are enough people in this world who demand our attention. But if you’re a fan, and you see fit to criticize him, you also need to understand what he’s going through. Otherwise you’d be treating him as a commodity rather than as a person. That wouldn’t speak well of you, would it?
Katie, you are such a good writer, but it's not just the tech side.
You talk about the maxims I find so important and critical to inner peace, which I feel deeply begets outer peace.
Sometimes I think I AM going crazy. That's not hyperbole. I think something is wrong with me for FEELING, because everyone around me chooses vitriolic anger and baleful pride. Friends, family, etc. They have chosen to forgo empathy and introspection.
And when I read your articles, that feeling of insanity subsides, sometimes for a long while.
So you have my deepest thanks for that. It's a gift I do not take for granted.
Really kind, and so meaningful to hear, thank you. And I'm right there with you. I try to treat feeling those swells, however inconvenient, as a reminder that I'm engaged, still knee deep in the world. They help me write, and I'm sure there's something they help you with, even if it's giving people grace.
This is the most incisive writing about that meeting that I have read. Thank you.
Love this!!!
Body bag once again 💯🫱🏽🫲🏾🙏🏽 love your observations!
Needed the laugh, thank you for this and for reading Kyle!
Ms. Heindl, Thanks for making empathy central to your article on Joel Embiid's recent knee injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the season. As you rightfully inferred, empathy is the soul of democratic institutions. Without it, democracy makes no sense, and without empathy, the protection and empowerment of all Americans' civil and human rights and freedoms makes no sense. Likewise, empathy is the soul of ethical businesses, which protect and empower their wealth creators (employees and customers). Full disclosure for me, billionaires including team owners, run and ruin our lives. I do not see the 76ers owners standing up against the Destruction Of Government by Elon, but I digress.
Nevertheless, I truly appreciate your focus on empathy in this piece because the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 27 - https://proempathy.us/76udhr20 - proclaims we all have "the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community." Moreover, the second part of Article 27 declares that "everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any ... artistic production of which he is the author." And indeed, Embiid's athletic prowess is an art worth preserving as long as possible! #GoEmpathySurplus
Yes, to all you said.
❤️
I agree that empathy isn't a finite resource, but it's also not unconditional. You need to be willing and able to imagine yourself in someone else's situation to feel real empathy for them.
I think the lack of empathy for athletes is a good example of people not being "able" to do that; NBA players are giant, talented millionaires. It's hard to imagine yourself being able to do what they can do because few people can do that; to understand how much time and energy goes into their preparation because most of us are too busy taking care of our basic needs to imagine having those resources; to understand the dedication from people who make enough money in one season for most of us to retire on.
I think the lack of enough for people suffering around the world is when people aren't "willing". Imagining your family dying, your home being destroyed, is awful. It's our responsibility to do that, but nobody can make anyone do it, and when we as individuals can't do anything to stop this suffering in the short term, you get people turning the empathy off. And once you do it and make peace with that, it's pretty easy to do it again, and again.
Re: Embiid though - empathy isn't finite but it's also not free. It takes energy, and people aren't infinite wells of energy. As a result people often become "suspicious" of others who seem to demand too much empathy, and might try to find reasons to justify it not being deserved. It's also why we all owe it to each other to be responsible and not get ourselves into unnecessary trouble. I think with Embiid you have someone who has had a lot to empathize with, and also has made some short sighted decisions in light of his injury history, and that's a recipe for cold-heartedness
Pretty condescending response Ronny. I didn't miss the point at all. I have a great deal of empathy for people that need and deserve it. I'll give my empathy to pro athlete's in the case of the loss of a loved one for example. In the case of Embid the narrative is we should feel sorry for him because he can't play a game and is getting some critical reviews but will still collect millions of dollars....... Sorry no sympathy from me. If he was someone who contributed to those in need, relative to his level of wealth I would probably feel differently.
Sympathy isn't empathy, and we'll have to agree to disagree on this one because as the entire premise of this piece is predicated on, the quality of empathy I write about being in short supply is the kind not contingent on another person's output.
Perhaps the lack of empathy from the "common man" relates to the unimaginable amounts of money they earn and the privileged lifestyle. Example, for the common working person, if they suffer an injury that prevents them from working for a few months, much less a year or two, they most likely lose their job and income. Mr Embid will continue earning his tens of millions, get the best medical care available free of charge. And God forbid he can no longer play, the remainder oh his contract or a lage chunk of it will still be paid out. And with the rare exceptions like a Dikembe Motumbo or Manute Bol, they contribute nothing back to the society they live in. Do I feel sorry for Joel Embid? Not in the slightest.
I think you may have missed the point of this piece - although you may simply disagree, which is your right. Empathy doesn’t need to be finite. Of course the average worker doesn’t have a small fraction of the advantages that an elite athlete like Embiid benefits from. But he’s still a human being. He feels pain. As a competitor - and he must be a competitor to get to where he’s gotten - it must be incredibly frustrating not to be able physically to perform at the level that he needs to. You can ignore him completely - he’s a stranger to you (as he is to me), and there are enough people in this world who demand our attention. But if you’re a fan, and you see fit to criticize him, you also need to understand what he’s going through. Otherwise you’d be treating him as a commodity rather than as a person. That wouldn’t speak well of you, would it?