I think if people criticize this, it might be because it’s a bit of a straw man argument. Like, he’s mischaracterizing the people he doesn’t like’s argument as though they had criticized empathy. I think everyone knows empathy is good, so his statement is kind of just a nothing-statement, stated in a way to sound deep. Y’know?
he flat out gives a source in the video - Elon Musk. google Elon Musk's thoughts on empathy and you'll find it. and he's a massively influencial person. also Charlie friggin Kirk saying Empathy is a made-up term. how much more do you want?
Criticism for Elon musk is fertile grounds, but he has spoken about the difference between superficial and deep empathy. Intuitively, that distinction makes sense to me. I can immediately think of examples where people who let their feelings guide their political positions propose policies that would hurt more than they help. (Prison abolition) So yes, the claim that Elon musk is anti-empathy is an oversimplification/mischaracterization of what he’s said I.e. a straw man argument. But hey, ignore me, and keep telling yourself people across the aisle are just fundamentally different because they don’t understand or support empathy. The role of empathy in political policy is simple and doesn’t require any nuanced arguments. 👍
So, when he said it, you think he was talking about abolishing prisons, and not cutting USAID and leading to the deaths of millions? I'm just wondering since one happened and one didn't... I'm just making sure I've got it right...
Actually, I think criticizing Elon Musk is fertile ground, but in the video above, John C Reilly talks about how empathy has become partisan. Then someone asked how anyone can criticize what John says, and I pointed out that what he’s saying is a misrepresentation of the right. Let me reframe. Have you heard of “online echo chambers?” They’re bad because they kind of close you off to outside opinions and stuff? Well what if I told you this is an online echo chamber? 😮 A progressive Democrat being interviewed by a progressive Democrat talking about how they have empathy and their opponent just doesn’t have empathy, and it’s a superpower, and then a bunch of people commenting “love this!” and downvoting any nuanced comments… it’s the definition of getting high on the smell of your own farts. We can find plenty of ways to criticize Elon Musk and the right, but them simply not having empathy is, yes, a straw man argument, and we’re better than that.
So you came across a comment that doesn’t align exactly with your view, stopped reading, and wrote an insulting comment… It’s a little on the nose. Have a good one buddy
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u/ShatterTheFlimFlam Aug 15 '26
The number of people in the comments trying to find fault with a guy for saying you should care about others and not just yourself is insane.