OJBs Web Site: Blog Page

Note: You are currently viewing my old web site. There is a new version with most of this content at OJB.NZ.
The new site is being updated, uses modern techniques, has higher quality media, and has a mobile-friendly version.
This old site will stay on-line for a while, but maybe not indefinitely. Please update your bookmarks. Thanks.

Add a Comment (Go Up to OJB's Blog Page)

An Empathy Deficit

Entry 2401, on 2025-06-28 at 14:17:10 (Rating 3, Comments)

I recently got involved in an on-line debate about the woke bias many news outlets in New Zealand have. When I said that woke culture was on the way out, my opponent said "empathy you mean". So he was implying that woke-ism is really just empathy, but is that really true?

Empathy is "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another" (OED) and woke people would probably say that is what they are doing, but I don't think so. Sure, they are empathising with some people or groups, but that attitude has consequences. If being empathetic involves completely ignoring the needs of another, is that still empathy? Well, maybe it is to an extent, but the negatives often outweigh the positives.

Maybe I should give some examples to make it clear what I am actually talking about here...

How about trans ideology? Yeah, that's a big one for the woke mob, and I'm sure they think they are exhibiting great empathy in that case. Well, sure, in a way they are, because there is no doubt they are acting in a very supportive way to the trans community.

But what are the consequences of this support? Biological men, who self-identify as women, are allowed to compete against women in sport, are allowed in traditional women-only spaces, and are protected by draconian laws and rules. If this is empathic towards trans people, which is itself debatable, what about the "collateral damage"?

What about the women who can't win at their chosen sport because a male beats them? What about the women who feel uncomfortable or threatened by biological males in their changing rooms? What about the people at pro-women meetings who are physically assaulted by the trans activists? Where's the empathy then? It seems that there are far more people whose feelings are ignored than those who are supported. Seems like an empathy deficit!

Another example of this is the conflict in the Middle East where the woke mob support the Palestinians, and now the Iranians. And yes, I say that as an absolute statement because you can basically guarantee that every woke person will support Palestine; there is no room for alternative opinions amongst them. I should say here though, that there are also relatively sensible people who support Palestine: I disagree with them, but at least they make a certain amount of sense.

So how is it empathetic to support Palestine at the expense of Israel? Sure, it's good to be aware of the terrible plight of the people of Gaza, but shouldn't we also understand the situation Israel is in where it has a neighbour whose stated aim is its destruction?

So again, on balance, that seems to be another empathy deficit.

It appears to me that this argument applies to every issue the woke mob support (affirmative action, DEI, climate change, etc). They are selective about who they are empathetic towards, and totally fail to see the big picture.

But what about me, and others who see things the same way I do? Are we also selectively empathetic? Well, I would hope not, but the first point is that I don't even base my opinions on empathy, because I try to use more rationality and logic. Do I always succeed? I guess many people would say no, but at least I try.

Secondly, I do have more nuanced views on this. I try to act in a respectful way towards trans people, for example. I will refer to someone who is genuine about their transition with their new, preferred pronouns. But if I would not necessarily say they should be able to compete against women, because I'm sorry, but trans women are not real women.

And I think Israel should and could do a lot more to protect the civilians in Gaza, even though I fully understand why they feel the need to pursue the destruction of Hamas.

So, in summary, are the people who say that their woke views are just a form of empathy right? No, I don't think so. Because they are so selective, and unthinking, about who deserves their support they end up reducing the total empathy in the world. They create an empathy deficit!

Comment 1 (8243) by Anonymous on 2025-06-29 at 20:55:54:

How can you be empathetic when you choose who you are empathic to. That's not real empathy is it.

Comment 2 (8244) by OJB on 2025-06-29 at 21:41:06:

Sorry, I don't understand your criticism. I am saying that the "woke mob" (as I call them, for lack of a better description) is selective about who they feel empathy for. That's my criticism. For example, they feel empathy for trans people but not the women who suffer because of the extra benefits the trans people demand. I suggest their attitude would be very different if they looked at the "big picture" and *not* be selective. Either I didn't explain my point very well, or you badly mis-read my post.

You can leave comments about this entry using this form.

To add a comment: enter a name and email (both optional), type the number shown above, enter a comment, then click Add.
Note that you can leave the name blank if you want to remain anonymous.
Enter your email address to receive notifications of replies and updates to this entry.
The comment should appear immediately because the authorisation system is currently inactive.