Empathy, Sympathy & Emotion.

[EcclesCake]

I often read on here the outpourings of sympathy and shared grief for various events, be it the tragedy in the US this week or the demise of a celebrity, or their relative.

I don't/can't get emotionally involved with these events, I can to some extent appreciate the pain of losing a child/parent/sibling but I do not shed a tear as I have no association with these events or the people involved.

When I am confronted with death and destruction I take a practical and pragmatic position and offer constructive assistance. Maybe I'm a hard hearted bitch but I simply cannot comprehend the emotional response that is shown by so many when so far removed from the event. Having said that I appreciate the resonance for those who have been in a similar position.

So, finally, to my question.....how affected do you find yourself by News bulletins? How far do you relate your own circumstances to what is happening in the News? Do you distance yourself from the News to avoid distress?

Or, do you take a different approach?,

[China Doll]

I can only really echo most of the thoughts on here. I have been saddened by the recent news regarding the shootings in America but not distressed by it, I do feel a sense of anger about any incident where a lot of innocent people are killed and I can not comprehend why. Anything involving cruelty or harm to children I find disturbing, (partly why I do what I do) but it doesn't upset me or make me cry, (again, I'd be useless at the day job if I cried at every horrific story regarding kids I heard). If I can help in a practical way then I will. If I am interested then I will follow the news. I think the sense of anger is as close as I come to an emotional response to news items.

There are certain celebrities I might feel that we had lost something if/when they die, (such as David Attenborough) because I admire them and what they do, but I am extremely unlikely to cry or become emotional about it. Natural events that kill a lot of people don't upset me either but again, if I can offer some practical assistance, (like money for charity) then I will.

I actually find something a bit sick about people trying to out-do each other in the outrage and pitchforks when there is a news item about a child missing or some such thing. I find it unsettling. I very much dislike mob mentalities.

I don't consider myself hard hearted or a b!tch, in fact I think I'm actually probably quite a kind person. I just find it hard to have an emotional response that does not effect me and mine. I also would very much hate to be caught crying or very emotional in a public place, and generally if I cry then it is because I am angry rather than sad.

[maggiebee]

I find outpourings of grief can be quite selective at times. Great newspaper coverage and outpouring of grief about shootings in the USA, but very little about the young girls killed by a landmine yesterday.

"At least ten young girls have been killed and two others injured in a landmine explosion in eastern Afghanistan.
The girls were collecting firewood when one of them hit the mine with an axe.
Most of those killed were aged between nine and 11."

Not criticising anyone in any way, but find it rather strange. The death of any person diminishes me because I am part of the human race. Not sure who said that, but it rings true with me.

[Ann]

I agree that in some tragedies people go completely OTT with their grief, for example leaving flowers at the scene for families they don't even know, but this current tragedy at the US school affected me a lot when watching the news. I used to work in a Primary school in the reception and Year 1 classes and these beautiful little children were the same age as the ones I was with............. the small item which crumpled me last night was the little girl who died who was due to be an Angel in the Nativity Play, the parents said now she is one in Heaven ..... whether you are religious or not, surely you cannot fail to be moved by that.

[chaptazbru]

I shed a few tears when Bill Tarmey died.