General Discussion

FightForMichigan

(232 posts)

90. This is a perfect example

Mon Dec 3, 2012, 11:11 AM

Dec 2012

that men can be every bit as empathetic as women. You get it.

Look, empathy is a skill. Like many other skills, some people are born with a talent for it, and others not so much, but through practice, everyone can improve it. I teach empathy skills where I volunteer, and over the space of just 65 hours, you can really see the lightbulbs come on for some people who struggled with empathy before.

Whether it's a male or female thing, something to do with brain development or gender roles in society, all that I have no way of knowing. But what I do know is that nearly anyone who truly wants to improve their empathy skills can. I've seen it happen.

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Highlight:

In many of the rape threads I an noticing a definite empathy deficit... [View all] Odin2005 Dec 2012 OP

***KICK*** Odin2005 Dec 2012 #1

Thanks Odin. Good comparison. k&r Little Star Dec 2012 #2

You are welcome! Odin2005 Dec 2012 #3

I only get offended when they misquote everyone here is a misguided bid for sympathy. bettyellen Dec 2012 #4

Well, Just how much empathy should we have? cliffordu Dec 2012 #5

Who has said that? MineralMan Dec 2012 #6

Seek and ye shall find. cliffordu Dec 2012 #13

Link & I'll look. MineralMan Dec 2012 #26

I have long admired you and your stances, MM, and I consider you a friend cliffordu Dec 2012 #43

Which means you got nothing Tsiyu Dec 2012 #46

You are most certainly not. The way your phrases are constructed cliffordu Dec 2012 #53

You would be wrong Tsiyu Dec 2012 #55

Could be the most passive aggressive reply cliffordu Dec 2012 #58

I don't think that phrase means what you think it means. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #70

For me the most telling thing about your post thucythucy Dec 2012 #76

I'm glad that is so telling... The Doctor. Dec 2012 #95

Yesterday I remember seeing am post by a female DUer... Odin2005 Dec 2012 #7

I have read the rape threads,no one has sufrommich Dec 2012 #15

I had the same thougt... where did that come from? salin Dec 2012 #25

Thank you. Cliffordu creates a straw man of Brobdignagian proportions, the coalition_unwilling Dec 2012 #68

Please link to a post where a DUer has Tsiyu Dec 2012 #35

You seem a bit defensive. Deep13 Dec 2012 #49

That's quite an accusation. Please link to an example. yardwork Dec 2012 #60

Hyperbole much??? cliffordu Dec 2012 #64

You seem to be falling off the rails. yardwork Dec 2012 #74

Not a smear, Yardwork is right -- provide a link obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #82

Here's a good starting point: Heidi Dec 2012 #73

No one has said that obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #80

So, someone being a creeper and hitting on someone in a bar is okay obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #81

Thanks Odin. redqueen Dec 2012 #8

This is exactly why I think we guys need to take a course on this stuff. Odin2005 Dec 2012 #10

What the fuck is this shit? unreadierLizard Dec 2012 #12

Chazz Bono has stated something very similar obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #17

Oh, I'm so sorry, then. unreadierLizard Dec 2012 #19

Unlimited facepalms. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #36

yes!! excellent idea. Voice for Peace Dec 2012 #47

Yes, that is axactly what I said obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #83

i am going with you on this one. do they say it cause it is expected from conditioning, and they seabeyond Dec 2012 #92

True, but... TM99 Dec 2012 #65

exactly. there are studies that refute this conditioned perception. it is getting society to seabeyond Dec 2012 #93

I don't care if Mr. Rogers said it Major Nikon Dec 2012 #96

Except I never said that obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #102

No, but you did appear to defend it Major Nikon Dec 2012 #104

You produce testosterone AND estrogen MattBaggins Dec 2012 #28

In fact, an estrogen causes the sexual dimorphism of the brain... DreamGypsy Dec 2012 #42

I just think it's cool we get to stand up to pee Major Nikon Dec 2012 #98

Urinating while standing is not limited to human males... DreamGypsy Dec 2012 #100

Competitive cyclists quite commonly pee while riding Major Nikon Dec 2012 #101

True Major Nikon Dec 2012 #97

I know many, many empathetic men. redqueen Dec 2012 #14

+1 unreadierLizard Dec 2012 #16

We may have behavioral tendencies, based on our genetic predispositions... redqueen Dec 2012 #20

Thank you for saying this red Major Nikon Dec 2012 #77

Sexism Major Nikon Dec 2012 #75

Thank you Odin2005. MadrasT Dec 2012 #9

Wow. unreadierLizard Dec 2012 #11

Yes, that is exactly what Odin said obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #18

Excuse me for feeling -personally- insulted by his generalizations unreadierLizard Dec 2012 #21

You just proved his point again obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #22

Am I supposed to just bend over and accept this unreadierLizard Dec 2012 #24

Look, I'm a guy, and I think you're overreacting to the point of looking ridiculous. nomorenomore08 Dec 2012 #27

Annnnd there's the hat trick! (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #31

Point proven -- again! obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #84

It's interesting you use a rape metaphor here gollygee Dec 2012 #88

Thanks for proving my point. Odin2005 Dec 2012 #32

+1 Squinch Dec 2012 #51

I'm going to try this again, JoeyT Dec 2012 #52

very well explained, and nicely too! renate Dec 2012 #59

+ infinity! This needs to be an OP. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #69

Wow! Wonderful explanation. thucythucy Dec 2012 #78

Seriously, you are awesome. redqueen Dec 2012 #79

That's it exactly -- this would make a good OP obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #86

wow. That was excellent. wow. and wow. Whisp Dec 2012 #89

This is a perfect example FightForMichigan Dec 2012 #90

Beautifully said. Thank you. yardwork Dec 2012 #94

Great post! nt raccoon Dec 2012 #99

BINGO! Odin2005 Dec 2012 #106

I understand in the strangest way. Explanation>> BlueJazz Dec 2012 #23

Growing up as a gay person you can also get similar treatment from these jerks, even from cops RKP5637 Dec 2012 #29

Oh..Yes...I was going to post pretty much the same thing but figured I'd stick to the.. BlueJazz Dec 2012 #34

Yeah, it can be pretty scary, especially if you don't look just like those jerks! They RKP5637 Dec 2012 #38

I haven't read through all of these related threads... OneGrassRoot Dec 2012 #66

I tangled with somebody who *truly couldn't seem to understand* that his long-winded, self-centered nomorenomore08 Dec 2012 #30

And many on this board thank you so much Tsiyu Dec 2012 #40

Thank you Odin for your thoughtful post. smirkymonkey Dec 2012 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author Bonobo Dec 2012 #37

I appreciate the sentiment, Odin2005 salin Dec 2012 #39

I'll repost a comment I made late last night on another thread. Blue_In_AK Dec 2012 #41

Thanks for your input! Odin2005 Dec 2012 #44

I've noticed that young and good-looking women are much more approachable FarCenter Dec 2012 #45

I'm not a rapist ... GeorgeGist Dec 2012 #48

Eloquently stated, in so few words! nomorenomore08 Dec 2012 #57

Assuming That Someone is Gulity of a Vice On the Road Dec 2012 #50

I agree. JoeyT Dec 2012 #54

Ah, another poster who missed to whole point of the OP. Odin2005 Dec 2012 #56

A vice? yardwork Dec 2012 #62

You're right of course, pecwae Dec 2012 #71

A vice is gambling too much, not rape obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #87

It may help to realize... luv_mykatz Dec 2012 #61

You're welcome! Odin2005 Dec 2012 #72

Thank you. Beacool Dec 2012 #63

Thanks, Odin, men simply have no clue Warpy Dec 2012 #67

I challenge you to open your mind a bit FightForMichigan Dec 2012 #91

They still don't get the fear. How could they? Warpy Dec 2012 #103

So sadly true Tumbulu Dec 2012 #107

Sexism Major Nikon Dec 2012 #105

Thank you Odin. Great OP. thucythucy Dec 2012 #85