Thanks for reading. You sparked a question in my mind, who is more practical, the Insensitives or Sensitives? Maybe it is not an important question. Anyway, I think most Insensitives have empathy too, but it kind of gets overridden by other qualities.
They have empathy, but it tends to get overwritten by their sure knowledge and black-and-white thinking of very grey issues.
They, of course, scorn me for not seeing the world as black and white. Perfect current example: American government now declares there are and can only be males and females. That makes sense in a general way (“what else is there?!”), but the sensitive souls speak up and point out that all through human history there are a small percentage of people born with both sex organs, or partial ones, and doctors and parents have always had to make their best guess which direction to push that child surgically. If they guessed wrong, that kid grows up with a body that doesn’t match their identity. The insensitive ones want to live in a world where those people don’t exist. The sensitive souls know they do.
I like these comments. You make me feel more confident in my assertions. Black and white thinking, yes, that is one thing I was saying in the story. Insensitives are too assured of their opinion without consulting evidence. Some things are self-evident and proof is often some vague thing called tradition or "just cause that is the way that it is." This is one reason Insensitives sometimes hate professors, because professors muddy the waters of certainty. I hope other folks pick up on what I am trying to say. The main thing is that I am claiming that the difference between the helpers and the hinderers of this world is not intelligence or even a sense of morality, but sensitivity.
"Basically, the A’s want to define where we belong, love taking personality tests, and enjoy speaking to others about our differences compared to the B’s."
Wow, you got me with this one lol ;)
I don't know if I'm HSP, but I think I grew up more 'sensitive' and felt quite different than my peers. Like many people, I was unconsciously taught that it's wrong to be a crybaby, for it means you're weak and fearful of everything.
Your explanation that Group A people are self-interested, it makes perfect sense. Feeling out of the norm / not cared enough makes you want to dive into your own differences and ask: "why?".
Hey so glad to hear from you. You seem to understand what I’m trying to say. I am just positing that sensitivity might be that which separates us more than any other “bad” thing. You are HSP in my opinion. I have no doubt. You are right in that we feel different and desire an explanation. No one wants to just say to themselves: I guess I am just a weirdo. And we also like to talk about our differences because other people can’t see them or don’t care. Or, they see them but suppose we are strange for no good reason. We have nothing to offer. I admit I like this story more than most.
Strawbridge, your writings are very "heavy." Us readers need time to reflect and understand your concepts. Let more time elapse before you submit another piece. I need to noodle on your words. You are a really great thinker, and wordsmith.
Hi Benn. Thank you so much for your generous compliment. I really appreciate that. Well I am so glad to hear that you reflect on my words at all. This is what I write for. Sometimes I wonder if I post too much, but I am naturally impatient. I will try harder to slow down. Thanks so much, I hope you are doing well and thriving as much as you can.
It’s a matter of healing, isn’t it? Whether as a sensitive or insensitive person.
The sensitive empathizes through shared notions of either pain, loneliness, etc.
Whereas the insensitive disassociates, unable to relate from the space of their own inability to find a common ground.
I guess in the end its not a matter of being sensitive, but a matter of being able to meet half way ,and try to understand each other, being able to inhabit other spaces without rejecting our own. Maybe it’s a matter of integration as opposed to the never ending segregation.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I value what everyone says. Insensitives have empathy and most everything that sensitives have. But they believe they are being sensitive but are being insensitive. I think the main difference between the two is seeing like as a game, a competition, and sensitives realizing that it is not. I think HISP are more in that league of not being able to relate.
I think healing is always good, and to get there we have to be sensitive. One thing I learned, that took a long time, is to understand how lifting you up lifts me up too. That little notion can be life-changing. Certainly, I could not get there thinking that your gain is my loss.
Sensitive souls work out good solutions.
Insensitive souls get elected and implement insensitive solutions that the media deem decisive, but sensitive souls can see right through.
I wrote about empathy here: https://livingaprincipledlife.substack.com/p/principle-10-empathy-is-lifes-key
Thanks for reading. You sparked a question in my mind, who is more practical, the Insensitives or Sensitives? Maybe it is not an important question. Anyway, I think most Insensitives have empathy too, but it kind of gets overridden by other qualities.
They have empathy, but it tends to get overwritten by their sure knowledge and black-and-white thinking of very grey issues.
They, of course, scorn me for not seeing the world as black and white. Perfect current example: American government now declares there are and can only be males and females. That makes sense in a general way (“what else is there?!”), but the sensitive souls speak up and point out that all through human history there are a small percentage of people born with both sex organs, or partial ones, and doctors and parents have always had to make their best guess which direction to push that child surgically. If they guessed wrong, that kid grows up with a body that doesn’t match their identity. The insensitive ones want to live in a world where those people don’t exist. The sensitive souls know they do.
I like these comments. You make me feel more confident in my assertions. Black and white thinking, yes, that is one thing I was saying in the story. Insensitives are too assured of their opinion without consulting evidence. Some things are self-evident and proof is often some vague thing called tradition or "just cause that is the way that it is." This is one reason Insensitives sometimes hate professors, because professors muddy the waters of certainty. I hope other folks pick up on what I am trying to say. The main thing is that I am claiming that the difference between the helpers and the hinderers of this world is not intelligence or even a sense of morality, but sensitivity.
"Basically, the A’s want to define where we belong, love taking personality tests, and enjoy speaking to others about our differences compared to the B’s."
Wow, you got me with this one lol ;)
I don't know if I'm HSP, but I think I grew up more 'sensitive' and felt quite different than my peers. Like many people, I was unconsciously taught that it's wrong to be a crybaby, for it means you're weak and fearful of everything.
Your explanation that Group A people are self-interested, it makes perfect sense. Feeling out of the norm / not cared enough makes you want to dive into your own differences and ask: "why?".
Hey so glad to hear from you. You seem to understand what I’m trying to say. I am just positing that sensitivity might be that which separates us more than any other “bad” thing. You are HSP in my opinion. I have no doubt. You are right in that we feel different and desire an explanation. No one wants to just say to themselves: I guess I am just a weirdo. And we also like to talk about our differences because other people can’t see them or don’t care. Or, they see them but suppose we are strange for no good reason. We have nothing to offer. I admit I like this story more than most.
Strawbridge, your writings are very "heavy." Us readers need time to reflect and understand your concepts. Let more time elapse before you submit another piece. I need to noodle on your words. You are a really great thinker, and wordsmith.
Hi Benn. Thank you so much for your generous compliment. I really appreciate that. Well I am so glad to hear that you reflect on my words at all. This is what I write for. Sometimes I wonder if I post too much, but I am naturally impatient. I will try harder to slow down. Thanks so much, I hope you are doing well and thriving as much as you can.
It’s a matter of healing, isn’t it? Whether as a sensitive or insensitive person.
The sensitive empathizes through shared notions of either pain, loneliness, etc.
Whereas the insensitive disassociates, unable to relate from the space of their own inability to find a common ground.
I guess in the end its not a matter of being sensitive, but a matter of being able to meet half way ,and try to understand each other, being able to inhabit other spaces without rejecting our own. Maybe it’s a matter of integration as opposed to the never ending segregation.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I value what everyone says. Insensitives have empathy and most everything that sensitives have. But they believe they are being sensitive but are being insensitive. I think the main difference between the two is seeing like as a game, a competition, and sensitives realizing that it is not. I think HISP are more in that league of not being able to relate.
I think healing is always good, and to get there we have to be sensitive. One thing I learned, that took a long time, is to understand how lifting you up lifts me up too. That little notion can be life-changing. Certainly, I could not get there thinking that your gain is my loss.