Am I the Only One Who DOESN'T Care About Japan?

[zehydra]

I wouldn't say you're a sociopath, I'd say you're just uneducated in the field of sympathy. You've never learned to have feelings for anyone outside your circle of friends and family.

That's my guess.

 

[SanguineSymphony]

So as most of you know Japan has had it pretty rough lately what with an earthquake, a tsunami, and some kind of radioactive meltdown happening in pretty quick succession. Hundreds of people are dead and towns have been destroyed. People at my school are all talking about it and debating whether or not we (the USA) should help Japan. But in the midst of all this, I find that I really don't care. I mean, I certinly don't want people to die and I don't wish anything bad on Japan (unlike some crazy people), but I don't really feel any sympathy towards people who I've never met and probably never will. Anyone else feel the same way, or am I just a sociopathic weirdo?

No you're not a Sociopath. A Sociopath doesn't care about almost anyone and could watch their best friend/loved ones die and not have much emotional response. To answer your larger question I am sure there are lots of people that don't care.

I just don't see why it matters. The fact that you felt the need to ask and connect means you have at least have some healthy need to fit in. My guess is you just don't understand how wide scale the devastation is and how far reaching it could be Worst Case Scenario. I know as soon I started hearing of Tokyo evacuating my Self Interest button started getting pressed rapidly. I am now at least slightly worried my favorite Japanese Devs and Designers are at risk and am very concerned about their personal well being.

 

[ekkaman]

American to the bone mate you are. When this happens to your country (Nice big fault line you got their) watch how much your people are willing to help others just like in New Orleans. Mate you and your people are totally screwed, and you know why? Cause of your attitude. Good luck.

If it happens in the States, the response will be exactly the same. Some people will donate their time to help, some will donate some money, and the rest won't be bothered enough to do a damn thing about it. It's human nature. As long as something does not directly affect them, they won't really care about it.

sorry mate but your a long way off the mark. danintexas response was about all that can be said on top of what i have said.
I feel sorry for you guys you have way too much hate over their.

 

[balanovich]

I feel the same way.

 

[Thundero13]

I know what you mean, I found myself in this position while talking to a friend the other day, basically I started talking about how its lucky that I live in a country where natural disasters never strike, Ireland

 

[jbrogue]

This is going to sound mental, but I joined just so I could reply to this thread.

I have been known to be a baby about many things, but for the first time I just have no feeling towards the disaster in Japan. And, it bothers me, only because I don't understand why I'm lacking this empathy and damn well won't announce it to the world. It makes me feel lousy, but I truly don't feel anything. I'm wondering if my anxiety-filled mind isn't going into some strange new transition to some other disorder. Really.

So, basically you are not alone. Katrina made me weep like a baby, after that I stopped caring about the world. Probably for me it had to do with seeing how the US could say "oh yeah we'll help you guys down south" and then the hurried to every country, kept a war running, and now it's like, 'Oh yeah let's go help the Japanese." Whatever. I don't care. Maybe the end of the world really is coming. Oh noes! Not the tadpoles!

Kinda makes me laugh, somewhat makes me feel like a d!ck. Oh well. Adieu posters.

By logic: Remember, you are never alone. Someone out there always has it worse than you. (or is a bigger @sshole!)

 

[newfoundsky]

I see your point, but having lived NEAR New Orleans, I've seen the damage massive flooding can do. It really is awful, and I think you might want to invest in some empathy.

 

[Chromanin]

TC, the apathy you feel toward Japan is the same way I felt toward 9/11. So you're no more of a sociopath than I am.

 

[Koroviev]

No, it is next to impossible for you to be the only one, especially where sociopaths are concerned (some estimates place the prevalence of sociopaths at 1 in every 25 people). To clarify, however, I do not think you are a sociopath. Insensitive? Yes. Short-sighted? Yes. But a sociopath? I don't have enough information, nor the qualifications, to make such a severe judgement.

 

[dnnydllr]

The fact that you had no personal interaction with anyone affected by it makes your reaction, or lack thereof, perfectly normal.

However, some of you people out there saying stuff about being mad about your manga being delayed, don't you think that's a little insensitive? You should probably be a little more concerned for the loss of human life...

 

[Mullahgrrl]

TC, the apathy you feel toward Japan is the same way I felt toward 9/11. So you're no more of a sociopath than I am.

I actually care a lot more about this than 9/11, proberbly thanks to the japaneese display of sang froid.

Seriously, if you listen to the americans they will make a couple of buildings knocked down sound like the goddamned end of the world. Now japan is on the verge of sinking into the sea and they don't bat an eyelid.

 

[Rayne870]

OP, you are not the only one. I don't share your apathy, but you are not unique in the world.

 

[Foxbat Flyer]

I Dont care for whats happening, but i am saddened to think of the loss and tragedy, and think of if it were to happen here, I cant even begin to state how i would feel if it happened here

 

[UFOROMANTIC]

I've got friends in Japan and the place is like a home away from home for me, so I'm pretty upset about this disaster. Obviously, though, I can't reasonably expect you to care. But there is, of course a difference between just saying you don't really care to a large group over the Internet and, say, saying it to my face when I'm biting my nails and hitting refresh on my friend's Facebook pages in the wee hours of the night, waiting to see if they respond to my comments and answer my odd IMs, my eyes watering from anxiety over whether or not they're still alive. If you did anything but express sympathy in that case, I might kick your head in.
But, there's nothing wrong with not caring, or even that messed up, really. Rubbing salt in people's wounds over it, there's something wrong with that, to be sure. You don't necessarily need to fake sympathy, but never forget to exercise tact.

 

[theultimateend]

So as most of you know Japan has had it pretty rough lately what with an earthquake, a tsunami, and some kind of radioactive meltdown happening in pretty quick succession. Hundreds of people are dead and towns have been destroyed. People at my school are all talking about it and debating whether or not we (the USA) should help Japan. But in the midst of all this, I find that I really don't care. I mean, I certinly don't want people to die and I don't wish anything bad on Japan (unlike some crazy people), but I don't really feel any sympathy towards people who I've never met and probably never will. Anyone else feel the same way, or am I just a sociopathic weirdo?

You are perfectly normal. The people of Japan are outside your monkeysphere [http://www.cracked.com/article_14990_what-monkeysphere.html]. Thus, you have no emotional connection to them and therefore don't really care about it.

I'm the same way, to be perfectly honest. It sucks for Japan, but aside from the minor inconvenience of not having my manga fix for a couple weeks, I couldn't care less.

I don't need to feel honest depression to care about a group of people. The simple system I use is putting myself in the situation as best as I can and thinking of how it would affect me.

These folks had their entire world washed away.

I could go on, but I don't think the monkeysphere supports your closing argument. Since you take apathy and convert it into something more actively callous.

 

[SodaDew]

psh, I care for anyone the U.S. isn't at war with with, so yes I care about Japan. Plus if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have video games >:O

 

[SlasherX]

Do not care, literally at all, it's a bunch of people I have never met, will never meet and don't care about that got hit by an earthquake, sad but I still don't care

 

[MrDeano89]

This is pretty much asking for an argument, nature happens sure but no one deserves it and we as able and essentially prosperous nations should be helping out countries that try to maintain decent economies that have been fucked over, we give a lot to countries that deserve it but who's government's don't deserve it, Japan is not one of these countries, its always stood on its own two feet and this time its been put on its arse. Now I'm not a massive fan of Japan especially its wale, dolphin and shark hunting, and also it's world war 2 reputation but it's still a country that needs actual legitimate help and i know damn well that if either Britain or the USA was in the shit we'd expect Japan to come running.

 

[shiaramoon]

So as most of you know Japan has had it pretty rough lately what with an earthquake, a tsunami, and some kind of radioactive meltdown happening in pretty quick succession. Hundreds of people are dead and towns have been destroyed. People at my school are all talking about it and debating whether or not we (the USA) should help Japan. But in the midst of all this, I find that I really don't care. I mean, I certainly), but I don't really feel any sympathy towards people who I've never met and probably never will. Anyone else feel the same way, or am I just a sociopathic weirdo?

To be honest, that's pretty normal, all it means is that you're not a very empathic person when it comes to people you don't know, that's it.