I do agree that everyone is living a story that you know nothing about. But I think everyone on some level is aware of this lack of knowledge about other peoples' lives. In fact I feel it's rather obvious that even the most random person on the street lives a very complex life.
A call for compassion because people are "unaware" of the complex lives other people live is a feel good narrative that isn't true. Everyone is fully "aware."
The true horror of human nature is this: We are all aware of the hardships and the stories everyone else goes through. But our compassion has limits. At its most fundamental level, nobody cares about you and you don't really care about others.
It still works. Same way the bad guy in the movie gets told "I have a wife and kids" and sometimes spares the bank guard.
It is very different what we know when we sit on the couch and muse about it, from what we know when we are directly engaged in a particular set of actions. It helps when you're in the second to be reminded.
Spared because he slightly cares. Slightly, or else why did he instigate the hostage situation in the first place? On a gradient you can say he cares about 0.001%.
0.001% rounds to 0 which is inline with what I said. On a fundamental level, we don't care.
>It is very different what we know when we sit on the couch and muse about it, from what we know when we are directly engaged in a particular set of actions.
You're musing too. And you mused the opposite of what I mused.
I would say, my analysis goes beyond simple musing. It's evidence based.
Observe the actions and inaction of the world and yourself. How much of your wealth have you donated to people in need? You have enough wealth to save dying people. There are definitely people in the US who need money to pay for chemo or some other treatment for some terminal disease. How much effort did you spend to find these people and donate a fraction of your wealth to save a life?
None. People have already died because of your inaction. Entire complex stories have been already been lost... And does this inaction keep you awake at night? No. Because you don't care. And neither does anyone else.
This is evidence that what I am saying is more inline with truth then simple musing.
I do agree that everyone is living a story that you know nothing about. But I think everyone on some level is aware of this lack of knowledge about other peoples' lives. In fact I feel it's rather obvious that even the most random person on the street lives a very complex life.
A call for compassion because people are "unaware" of the complex lives other people live is a feel good narrative that isn't true. Everyone is fully "aware."
The true horror of human nature is this: We are all aware of the hardships and the stories everyone else goes through. But our compassion has limits. At its most fundamental level, nobody cares about you and you don't really care about others.