Out of ten, how would you rate your ability to empathize with people with opposing viewpoints? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 days ago by StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Let's say zero is straight up shutting your ears, going lalala and storming out of the room, let's say 10 is sitting down with a Nazi, genuinely making an effort to see things from their point of view just to see if you could.

Sure this may sound ridiculous but it's basic knowledge that studying your opponents viewpoints is the best way to counter them and get new insight yourself.

Me? Id like to think I'm a 6, I don't cut family ties over their political opinions but I'm very likely to shut that down with a "I don't want to speak politics with you"

Lemmy can be an echo chamber sometimes, but that doesn't mean everyone here is a mindless zombie, how do you all deal with others who believe differently? Can you back it up?

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[-] Naich@lemmings.world 4 points 4 days ago

Depends who they are. The effort I put into empathising depends on how much of an arsehole they are.

[-] limer@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

Basically this. Most people are decent enough, that is they are not trying to burn down the world. Many, including me, have unclear ideas about what is happening. Often, people use opposing words and history to really mean the same goals.

But it’s exhausting figuring it out for more than friends and people in my echo groups. So I don’t usually try. They have to be worth it to me.

That said, this is for the mental stuff. When it comes to political actions that need to be done now, and cannot wait, things are different. There is a time crunch then. And it’s not about tolerance , but results.

[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2025

52 points (93.3% liked)

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