On feeling sorry for people

Me too. We aren't all chatters. In fact when I do make efforts to be friendly they often go wrong. I'm likely to offend someone without having any idea how it happened. I once tried helping a blind person who was walking into the side of a building, tried to direct her around to the front door. She snapped at me as if I'd insulted her. I have no idea what I said or did that got that reaction. I remember it as her resenting my trying to help at all. Doesn't encourage me to be helpful in future. Doesn't mean I don't care, just means I am not socially adept at some kinds of interaction. Better do nothing than do something that makes the situation worse.

I suppose there's a need here for a stab at a definition -- which may be acceptable providing nobody takes first efforts as final.In my experience it has something to do with an angry moralistic response to normal innocent human behavior. In its purest form it has a Marxist framework that defines an Oppressor and an Oppressed, a Victim and his Victimizer. The Victim in the Marxist version may be a veteran in a wheelchair or any race other than white, or a female as opposed to a male and the like, but it varies quite a bit depending on context.The Oppressor or Victimizer is treated as unmitigated evil, denounced in the most venomous indignant tones, described as a Nazi quite frequently, although he may have done nothing more than blunder out onto a patio where some sad-looking veterans were sitting, feel sorry for them in the privacy of his own mind and leave after a few minutes.It's moralism extended into arenas it has no right to be, attacking people for merely being human with all their faults and bumblings, or attacking people for thoughtful opinions that happen to clash with the PC opinion. This happens a lot. It's not just a disagreement, it's an attack on the person.It's risky to attempt an abstract definition of this, but that's all that occurs to me at the moment.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Typical PC I want to say but maybe it isn't QUITE apt in this case.
Typical moralism of the modern sort in any case. Yes it IS about criticizing him. He SHOULD take such opportunities is implicit. He SHOULD want to "interact with his fellow creatures," SHOULD not pass up this "part of the experience of being alive." He's MISSING OUT. One of the Hundred Commandments, Don't Miss Out on Opportunities to Interact.

Yes, PC, the purest kind, does derive from Cultural Marxism, but it has many other variations.In a way, yes, it is an aping and in some cases a reversal of Christian principles. You simply define homosexuality as normal instead of a sin and there you have it. If someone considers it a sin they get the moral opprobrium that sin deserves. This analogy breaks down quickly too though.But this gets us off topic.

Here's another aspect of this thing. The moralistic reaction to Robin's feeling sorry for these men is all about his not DOING something about it. I realized this is central to the mindset here.In this frame of reference there is no room for merely having an existential moment, which is what it was for Robin, a moment of confrontation with real-life misery in a way that for a philosophical turn of mind may throw into relief all the dilemmas of human existence.Instead of being allowed to contemplate the many ramifications of the Human Condition that such a moment presents to one, perhaps to understand something about life, he is bullied by smaller minds about not DOING something instead.This frantic rush to cure all the ills of the world tramples on what could be argued is a higher human calling, to reflect on the meaning of life, to understand the big picture.

I suppose I deserved that but I really think this is what is going on. A person can't even have a philosophical moment without being harassed and bullied by the Fuzziewuzzies for failure to meet their blinkered standards.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Robin was harassing and bullying the veterans and needed to be stopped?

Weird. Communication is just impossible with people misreading things to this extent.

What makes your whole attitude PC is your certainty that you have the right and the knowledge to tell other people how to feel and think. Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

No, it's merely strongly implying what they SHOULD have done, which you seem to feel you have a right to suggest as if you have the right to dictate how people should respond, as if your reactions are the standard.I mean, you feel you KNOW the exactly right way to behave, and you're so PROUD of your skill, and obviously EVERYBODY should emulate Mr. Correct.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

I dare you.

Only through the power of God, and you can't ask it of anyone who does not believe.

You are right. Much altruism is really motivated by hidden selfish motives to "feel good about yourself."

Oh yes, the entire human race will ultimately be judged by His words, and I'd have to guess that anyone who makes a sincere effort to follow them would be better off in the end than those who don't. Nevertheless real power to obey them comes only through the Holy Spirit, and unbelievers don't have the Holy Spirit

You bet my words are divisive, and so were Jesus' words.Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.Jhn 17:9 ...I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.And then there is the sheep and the goats, the ones who falsely say Lord Lord and I could go on.