• magnetosphere@kbin.social
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    10 months ago

    I’m usually ready to laugh at this asshole, but if he has a drug problem, then I pity him.

    Important note: pity and sympathy are similar, but not the same thing.

      • jopepa@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I used to work with this mean miserable guy and there were so many times a lot of us would try to cheer him up. Share food, invite to after work drinks, movies, concerts, just include him. He never took anyone up on it, ever. After a friend of mine left that job and confronted him about his shitty attitude and self alienation, he just said, “I don’t want your pity.”

        Ironically, after I heard that I stopped sympathizing and did just pity the guy.

        • ashok36@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          Maybe he just didn’t want to hang out with you guys and had a perfectly fine life outside of work. Crazy, I know.

          • jopepa@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            I sincerely hope he does, but I think it’s pretty sad that someone conflates kindnesses with pity.

          • Pips@lemmy.sdf.org
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            10 months ago

            I often don’t want to hang out with coworkers. I just politely decline if asked affirmatively. There’s no reason to decline and say, “I don’t want your pity” since I assume they’re just to be inclusive and friendly. I know a lot of people on here have a hard work/life separation, but you do have to exist with your coworkers for some portion of your life. Might as well make interactions with them pleasant.

    • littleblue✨@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Empathy is to understand another’s emotional state. Sympathy is to effectively mirror it.

      Buuuut, much like “literally” now means “figuratively” and “decimate” has lost all meaning after being mistaken for “devastate”… Carry on. The species is circling the drain anyhow.