Empathy, the next right wing frontier

[gowlerk 2,236]

Not satisfied with denigrating people for being “woke” the right wing is on a campaign against empathy. May God have mercy. No, that would be wrong, apparently mercy must be earned by birthright. Except if your parents are not from the right place. I shit you not, it is not only Elon speaking out against empathy. The religious right is now claiming that it is both a feminine trait but also a tool of the devil and needs to be eradicated to save western civilization.

[dogyks 9]

51 minutes ago, gowlerk said:

Not satisfied with denigrating people for being “woke” the right wing is on a campaign against empathy. May God have mercy. No, that would be wrong, apparently mercy must be earned by birthright. Except if your parents are not from the right place. I shit you not, it is not only Elon speaking out against empathy. The religious right is now claiming that it is both a feminine trait but also a tool of the devil and needs to be eradicated to save western civilization.

Woke is a transmissible form of mental illness, as is any other religion, and should be limited in its spread.  Per Amendment #1, you have the right to whatever system of delusion suits you, but you are proscribed from inflicting upon others.

Somehow, it is viewed as a birthright of anyone on the planet to occupy the U. S. of A. if they can manage to touch base here. Interesting thought.

If someone showed up in Tirana and explained that in Camden, New Jersey they were in fear of drug gangs and sundry violence, I imagine the Albanian authorities would feel badly for our victim but wonder quite what makes it their problem.

I have been to places that are nice, but one would not dream of being there without authorization.  Why should the U. S. be any different?

Given that the horrible places on this planet are largely very nice geographically, but are simply awful by dint of their population/culture, why on earth would we want to import said culture?

One thing we tend to miss is that the people who go against repressive regimes are all too often no better than the oppressors when all is said and done.

Thus, if I guess correctly as to what you're railing against, there is no lack of empathy for people who overlook the rules regarding immigration; the hope is that they'll be healthy and happy somewhere else.

[gowlerk 2,236]

2 minutes ago, dogyks said:

Somehow, it is viewed as a birthright of anyone on the planet to occupy the U. S. of A. if they can manage to touch base here. Interesting thought.

Birthright citizenship is not the norm the world over, just in Canada and the USA and a few other parts of the new world. It is something I’m proud of. 

[gowlerk 2,236]

4 minutes ago, dogyks said:

Woke is a transmissible form of mental illness, as is any other religion, and should be limited in its spread. 

Apparently you have a very limited understanding of both woke and religion and what those words mean.

[wmw999 2,507]

4 minutes ago, dogyks said:

Woke is a transmissible form of mental illness, as is any other religion, and should be limited in its spread.  Per Amendment #1, you have the right to whatever system of delusion suits you, but you are proscribed from inflicting upon others.

Somehow, it is viewed as a birthright of anyone on the planet to occupy the U. S. of A. if they can manage to touch base here. Interesting thought.

If someone showed up in Tirana and explained that in Camden, New Jersey they were in fear of drug gangs and sundry violence, I imagine the Albanian authorities would feel badly for our victim but wonder quite what makes it their problem.

I have been to places that are nice, but one would not dream of being there without authorization.  Why should the U. S. be any different?

Given that the horrible places on this planet are largely very nice geographically, but are simply awful by dint of their population/culture, why on earth would we want to import said culture?

One thing we tend to miss is that the people who go against repressive regimes are all too often no better than the oppressors when all is said and done.

Thus, if I guess correctly as to what you're railing against, there is no lack of empathy for people who overlook the rules regarding immigration; the hope is that they'll be healthy and happy somewhere else.

AKA the peacetime equivalent of that post Vietnam-era t-shirt: shoot them all and let God sort them out

Wendy P. 

[gowlerk 2,236]

9 minutes ago, dogyks said:

Thus, if I guess correctly as to what you're railing against, there is no lack of empathy for people who overlook the rules regarding immigration; the hope is that they'll be healthy and happy somewhere else.

You guess incorrectly. What I am railing against is the very concept that empathy could possibly be considered to be a negative trait. It is like saying evil is good and good is evil.

[dogyks 9]

7 minutes ago, gowlerk said:

Birthright citizenship is not the norm the world over, just in Canada and the USA and a few other parts of the new world. It is something I’m proud of. 

Children of diplomats born in the U. S. are citizens of the country of origin of the parents.

Treating undocumented parents as diplomatic representatives of their home country seems no less fair.

You want an anchor baby?  Get a visa and show up legally.

[dogyks 9]

11 minutes ago, wmw999 said:

AKA the peacetime equivalent of that post Vietnam-era t-shirt: shoot them all and let God sort them out

Wendy P. 

As I'm sure you're aware, it was a papal envoy regarding Gnostics who said "kill them all - God will recognize his own." 

[wmw999 2,507]

13 minutes ago, dogyks said:

Children of diplomats born in the U. S. are citizens of the country of origin of the parents.

Treating undocumented parents as diplomatic representatives of their home country seems no less fair.

You want an anchor baby?  Get a visa and show up legally.

I believe there’s a process for changing the law. It doesn’t consist of the president saying “that sucks.”

As far as the other post, yeah, but the post Vietnam war era is a little more recent, and the envoy’s original statement never made it onto a t shirt  

Wendy P. 

[dogyks 9]

12 minutes ago, gowlerk said:

You guess incorrectly. What I am railing against is the very concept that empathy could possibly be considered to be a negative trait. It is like saying evil is good and good is evil.

I support treating animals with respect, and get injured wildlife to veterinary care.

Having said that, the chap who became buddies with Kodiak bears may have thought he was being empathetic but got eaten anyway.

I have dealt with people who, regardless of how well I treat them, are committed to the death of me and anyone like me.  Nothing personal.

I do not share their values, such as they are, but I accept their reality.

[JerryBaumchen 1,415]

1 hour ago, gowlerk said:

Not satisfied with denigrating people for being “woke” the right wing is on a campaign against empathy. May God have mercy. No, that would be wrong, apparently mercy must be earned by birthright. Except if your parents are not from the right place. I shit you not, it is not only Elon speaking out against empathy. The religious right is now claiming that it is both a feminine trait but also a tool of the devil and needs to be eradicated to save western civilization.

Hi Ken,

Re:   the right wing is on a campaign against empathy

When we elect a POTUS that shows absolutely no empathy, this is what we get.

Jerry Baumchen

[JerryBaumchen 1,415]

28 minutes ago, dogyks said:

Children of diplomats born in the U. S. are citizens of the country of origin of the parents.

Treating undocumented parents as diplomatic representatives of their home country seems no less fair.

You want an anchor baby?  Get a visa and show up legally.

Hi dogyks,

Re:  You want an anchor baby?  Get a visa and show up legally.

Sorry, that is not the law here.

Per Wendy:   It doesn’t consist of the president saying “that sucks.”

Jerry Baumchen

[nigel99 550]

59 minutes ago, dogyks said:

Somehow, it is viewed as a birthright of anyone on the planet to occupy the U. S. of A. if they can manage to touch base here. Interesting 

That attitude is a perfect example of the asinine arrogance that makes American’s detested the world over. 

Believe me a very large portion of the world has ZERO interest in being American. We are not and have never been sold on the American dream or the message that you’re the leaders of freedom and democracy. 

This goes back long before the Trump fiasco. Many other countries have better social services, lower crime rates, less religious influence, free and unrestricted access to porn (I believe if Americans had more boobs and less guns they would be happier), better healthcare and other factors that we are perfectly happy with. We don’t all see the hallowed ground of unfettered access to firearms as the holy grail of a perfect society. 

I love visiting the US, especially the southern states. There are many great people and in general some of the friendliest people I have met. I’ve been to 21 states and would rank my favourites in order as South Carolina, Texas, Georgia and New Mexico. Hardly liberal lefty states. Least favourite was New York followed by California.

Over the past 25 years I’ve probably spent an accumulated total of around 4 years there, with most of that working alongside Americans. As a kid growing up fantasising about being a test pilot on fighter jets, one of my most treasured memories is working at the Lockheed facility in Fort Worth and having lunches in the canteen with test pilots for the JSF and F16. 

But there is nowhere in the US that would entice me to want to settle there permanently. 

[wmw999 2,507]

6 minutes ago, nigel99 said:

But there is nowhere in the US that would entice me to want to settle there permanently

Come to Massachusetts . Of course, skydiving is seasonal in Mass  

Wendy P. 

[billvon 3,049]

1 hour ago, dogyks said:

You want an anchor baby?  Get a visa and show up legally.

Unless you are a white straight man.  Then you can just show up, ignore the law and get forgiven later.  Elon Musk, for one, is very happy with this state of affairs.

[nigel99 550]

1 minute ago, wmw999 said:

Come to Massachusetts . Of course, skydiving is seasonal in Mass  

Wendy P. 

I’ll definitely be back to visit, there are still many places I want to see and people to catch up with. Probably not while my Reddit, FB and posts here don’t risk me spending time in El Salvador :)

But I’ll counter your offer, come spend a couple of months in South West Australia or on the central coast of NSW. 

[richravizza 28]

4 hours ago, dogyks said:

I do not share their values, such as they are, but I accept their reality.

A dysregulated suicidal empathy.

How about  Strength thru joy.lol 

I think this appropriate to topic and a couple conversations this weekend.

I hope you approve of video.

Elons opinion is that it's a fundamental weakness of western civilizations the "empathy Exploit" 

Edited March 24 by richravizza

[olofscience 489]

12 hours ago, dogyks said:

Somehow, it is viewed as a birthright of anyone on the planet to occupy the U. S. of A. if they can manage to touch base here. Interesting thought.

You're just making shit up and assuming you know everyone's views.

12 hours ago, dogyks said:

I have been to places that are nice, but one would not dream of being there without authorization.  Why should the U. S. be any different?

It's not. You're just trying to make yourself feel special for being an American.

Edited March 24 by olofscience

[wmw999 2,507]

Actually, it is different; birthright citizenship is pretty rare. But it’s the law. If we’re going to be ruled by laws rather than whims, then we should change the laws according to the law, not by decree. Otherwise the next president can just change them right back. That’s been happening too much as it is, escalating things doesn’t help much 

Wendy P. 

[jakee 1,553]

10 hours ago, richravizza said:

Elons opinion is that it's a fundamental weakness of western civilizations the "empathy Exploit" 

And yet Elon, like Trump, believes the one single group of people on this earth who should be allowed to exploit it are white South Africans. Funny that.

[jakee 1,553]

15 hours ago, dogyks said:

Children of diplomats born in the U. S. are citizens of the country of origin of the parents.

Treating undocumented parents as diplomatic representatives of their home country seems no less fair.

However it may seem to you, they're literally not so you legally can't.

But I can see why just ignoring the details and simply pretending black is white instead is appealing to you, you've never been good with complex concepts.

[JerryBaumchen 1,415]

18 hours ago, nigel99 said:

I’ll definitely be back to visit, there are still many places I want to see and people to catch up with. Probably not while my Reddit, FB and posts here don’t risk me spending time in El Salvador :)

But I’ll counter your offer, come spend a couple of months in South West Australia or on the central coast of NSW. 

Hi Nigel,

I've been there twice.  Primarily, because my best friend emigrated there back in 71.

IMO very friendly people.

Jerry Baumchen

[JoeWeber 2,790]

On 3/24/2025 at 8:40 AM, JerryBaumchen said:

Hi Nigel,

I've been there twice.  Primarily, because my best friend emigrated there back in 71.

IMO very friendly people.

Jerry Baumchen

We felt the same in the early 80's; it just seemed a more civil society. Once in downtown Sydney I was lost in my car and asked a parked cabby through the window where was such and such. His reply was a simple, no worries mate, follow me. And I did. WA was #1 but just too far from the world.

[nigel99 550]

27 minutes ago, JoeWeber said:

We felt the same in the early 80's; it just seemed a more civil society. Once in downtown Sydney I was lost in my car and asked a parked cabby through the window where was such and such. His reply was a simple, no worries mate, follow me. And I did. WA was #1 but just too far from the world.

Covid and current geopolitics make being so far away an asset :) But it’s definitely the one thing I don’t particularly like is that it’s a 4-5 hour flight just to get out of state.