this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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Not really, no.
Empathy is about understanding the other person's feelings or experience, usually by being able to share in those things, or experience them vicariously. Empathy can even be used negatively. I believe Donald Trump has at least some empathy. He knows damn fucking well what his stupid words and actions are doing to some people.
I'm talking about objectively taking into consideration the other person's views, beliefs, and/or desired outcomes and adjusting actions or words based on that.
For example, I don't have to have empathy for someone who is non-binary to be respectful of their situation. I can't really know or understand their feelings, because I'm a heterosexual male. I can't possibly share in their experiences of being confused about gender identity and being ostracised for it. I have no reference point for those feelings.
But I can certainly be objective about their situation and remember that their gender identity and desired pronouns have literally no impact on me. So, rather than be a divisive prick about it and insisting on referring to them in binary gender terms, I can respect those things about them and act accordingly.