James, maybe you have Sociopathic tendencies. People generally care about the plight of others, whether they know them or not, because most of us are instilled with characteristics like sympathy and empathy.
of course if we don't know someone and heard of their demise, we obviously wouldn't feel the same kind of sadness as those close to them. Feelings tend to be centred more around sorrow for those left behind.
Last night I was watching a documentary made in 2001 about a morbidly obese advertising exec, who at 168kgs decided it was time to lose weight. The programme followed him over a year, where he exercised hard, ate well and by the following year, he'd lost 64kgs. I felt so pleased that through his hard work he managed to lose so much weight and improve his health.
At the end of the programme, there was an obituary, stating he had died, due to reasons not connected to his weight loss. Although I didn't sit their shedding tears and feeling bereft, I felt sad that after such a battle, he didn't live long enough to realise all the things he could do. I also felt sad for his wife, as they seemed so in love. Empathy kicks in, because I could imagine how I would feel if I were in her shoes.