Anonymous wrote:Agree mostly, but I believe that a lot of people including myself care about people (and animals) who we visually see as innocent and unable to help themselves, even if we don’t actually go out of our way to help them. But people generally care about those in pain, in poverty, and oppressed by the powerful.

You can, and you could make a huge impact in the lives of others.

Why do you think that sometimes people don't do anything, despite being concerned?

Anonymous wrote:Agree, but would add most care only about themselves, maybe their kids too.
However, that doesn't mean that in general people do not care about the welfare of society.
I care about those impacted by poverty, I wanted to elect Bernie, I am deeply concerned by the inequality of our oppressive and deeply divided state of economic and I am applied by the refusal by some many to vote for change.
Ironically it is often those that need the economic change and more equal Distribion of wealth that are against that change that would benefit them the most.
Further, I am appalled by the greed of the billionaires that refuse to pay better wages to their workers and are so greedy and blind to understand that paying a better wage will increase their own wealth even more.

The vast majority of people love their kids and, if they have good relationships with them, other family members.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I lost capacity years ago. In fact it annoys me to hear about issues, sickness or death in extended family. Don’t make your problem my problem.

And I grew numb to world problems. Let’s say India, China, Russia, Africa all got wiped out tomorrow. I don’t know if it would bother me as I have never been there. Even Covid I can’t comprehend.

Maybe cause I know other than my three kids and wife no one will really care when I drop dead and even those four in a few years I will be just a dusty picture on the mantle pretty quick

You need help. And maybe to learn the name of a country in Africa.

+1

Agree mostly, but I believe that a lot of people including myself care about people (and animals) who we visually see as innocent and unable to help themselves, even if we don’t actually go out of our way to help them. But people generally care about those in pain, in poverty, and oppressed by the powerful.

Agree, but would add most care only about themselves, maybe their kids too.
However, that doesn't mean that in general people do not care about the welfare of society.
I care about those impacted by poverty, I wanted to elect Bernie, I am deeply concerned by the inequality of our oppressive and deeply divided state of economic and I am applied by the refusal by some many to vote for change.
Ironically it is often those that need the economic change and more equal Distribion of wealth that are against that change that would benefit them the most.
Further, I am appalled by the greed of the billionaires that refuse to pay better wages to their workers and are so greedy and blind to understand that paying a better wage will increase their own wealth even more.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I lost capacity years ago. In fact it annoys me to hear about issues, sickness or death in extended family. Don’t make your problem my problem.

And I grew numb to world problems. Let’s say India, China, Russia, Africa all got wiped out tomorrow. I don’t know if it would bother me as I have never been there. Even Covid I can’t comprehend.

Maybe cause I know other than my three kids and wife no one will really care when I drop dead and even those four in a few years I will be just a dusty picture on the mantle pretty quick

You need help. And maybe to learn the name of a country in Africa.

Anonymous wrote:Agree, but if I see someone who needs assistance I don't hesitate to help.

Really? You help every homeless person you walk past?

Anonymous wrote:Agree. Most people either don’t care about issues that affect entire communities, or don’t have the bandwidth to do so

This.

Many people can care about large groups for a short period of time before empathy fatigue sets in or they have a more personal concern to attend to. Point in case, a friend (or relative) of a friend wrote on FB “Didn’t we already support protests in Minneapolis?” as if once you’ve spoken up about the police shooting a black men of a city, you can scratch that city off the list of social issues you pay attention to.

Honestly I lost capacity years ago. In fact it annoys me to hear about issues, sickness or death in extended family. Don’t make your problem my problem.

And I grew numb to world problems. Let’s say India, China, Russia, Africa all got wiped out tomorrow. I don’t know if it would bother me as I have never been there. Even Covid I can’t comprehend.

Maybe cause I know other than my three kids and wife no one will really care when I drop dead and even those four in a few years I will be just a dusty picture on the mantle pretty quick

Anonymous wrote:Of course. Most people are selfish and judgmental.

True.

Anonymous wrote:Only if they're smart.

No. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332874402_Why_are_smarter_individuals_more_prosocial_A_study_on_the_mediating_roles_of_empathy_and_moral_identity

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/altruism-for-a-better-body/422280/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and no. I think most people want to care about others and invest in others, but when all is said and done, most people only have the capacity (mental, physical, monetary, time wise, whatever) to take care of themselves and their friends and family.

Agree.

+1 when my own family is okay (health wise, money wise) I can think beyond my immediate circle. But when my own children or close family members are suffering, I can only focus on them.

Anonymous wrote:Immediate family who live with them they care about. No one gives a crap about grown brothers or sisters or nieces and nephews, co workers or neighbors. They pretend at best.

OP. Really? I care about my extended family and think most people do.

Immediate family who live with them they care about. No one gives a crap about grown brothers or sisters or nieces and nephews, co workers or neighbors. They pretend at best.

No studies have shown that once you become a parent your capacity for caring is focused on your children and spouse to a much higher degree and it is at the expense of caring for people outside your family unit.