I don't remember where this phrase is from, but as someone who struggles with conventional empathy, it made me finally "get it."
> If you were them, you would be like them.
I interpret it as "why judge someone by your standards when they stem from your mind, from your brain, which is in your body." Another person has a different body, thus a different brain, mind, electrochemistry, habits, wants, needs and proclivities. If you were born in their body, and subject to their exact life experience, there's (very debatably) no reason other than chance as to why you would turn out differently. If you were them, you would be like them.
I don't remember where this phrase is from, but as someone who struggles with conventional empathy, it made me finally "get it."
> If you were them, you would be like them.
I interpret it as "why judge someone by your standards when they stem from your mind, from your brain, which is in your body." Another person has a different body, thus a different brain, mind, electrochemistry, habits, wants, needs and proclivities. If you were born in their body, and subject to their exact life experience, there's (very debatably) no reason other than chance as to why you would turn out differently. If you were them, you would be like them.
In some way,... (read more)