attaining a common context with people in hard times

[karoaper]

My expensive laptop (well not mine but my department's) and my ipod got stolen from my car. I can only hope the thief really needed it for something urgent: like paying for surgery to remove a tank shell from his arse.
It's interesting that when everything is going great, it is actually difficult to really understand the hardships someone else is going through, on an intimate level. Maybe it's cause you and the person going through the hard time have no common context at that time. You just acknowledge it intellectually but don't really feel it in your bones. However, when you go through a hard time and when an injustice has been done to you, you suddently feel other's pain very accutely. This is a blessing in 2 forms. One, you attain a better philosophical understanding of life and the hardships it comes with, which in turn helps you become a wiser person. Two, you view others' hardships and seeing that you're not alone and that many others have it much much worse that you, you feel a little better about your own problems. That part is a bit selfish, but then again humans are selfish.

Maybe, there should be some sort of Virtual Reality machine that takes you through the emotions of having hard times. That way, maybe we'd give a crap more.

[Siggie]

I wouldn't think that way at all. I doubt that it was because someone needed money for an emergency. That's not the best way to get cash. You'd have to sell stolen stuff and unless you've been involved and know how and stuff, I don't think it'd be the sort of thing that would come easily to people. How much could you really get for a stolen laptop and ipod? Not enough for surgery.
I would be angry. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt most times, but I feel like there's always an alternative and if people just stopped to really think sometimes, they'd realize it.
I'm not wealthy and I've worked hard for the things that I have. It's not okay for someone to smash a window or something and take what I earned. If they need cash, they can get a job, second job, whatever...Sell something of their own.

[karoaper]

I wouldn't think that way at all. I doubt that it was because someone needed money for an emergency. That's not the best way to get cash. You'd have to sell stolen stuff and unless you've been involved and know how and stuff, I don't think it'd be the sort of thing that would come easily to people. How much could you really get for a stolen laptop and ipod? Not enough for surgery.
I would be angry. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt most times, but I feel like there's always an alternative and if people just stopped to really think sometimes, they'd realize it.
I'm not wealthy and I've worked hard for the things that I have. It's not okay for someone to smash a window or something and take what I earned. If they need cash, they can get a job, second job, whatever...Sell something of their own.

I can see how I was unclear. I didn't mean I was feeling sorry for the thief. I ment feeling on a deeper level for others who at that time go through hardship. Two days before the theft a guy I knew well had his martial arts dojo destroyed in a fire. Made me really assess what that woud be like and how miniscule my problem was compared to his. As far as the theft is concered, I completely agree, there's not excuse for it. If it became too critical, I'd go about selling my body or my body parts before I would stoop to theft. I was merely being sarcastic about the the use my laptop.

[Siggie]

Okay, gotcha now. It makes you more emphatic towards others who have to endure similar or in this case worse hardship. Gotcha now. I agree in that case.

It's kind of a given though isn't it? If you've experienced something you're better able to understand how someone else in that sort of situation feels.
Same thing for yourself, next time you know what to expect, how to deal, etc.

Just a benefit of experience.
No matter what kind.