We all wish the world was fair. But should we be sacrificing empathy to maintain this illusion?

[Guest The Phantom]

There's an attitude towards people affected by unfortunate circumstances that it's somehow their own fault and that they deserve what ever fate they got if not punished even more. We want to feel safe. Like we have control over our situation. That we are special and that nothing bad can ever happen to us. I get it. But that doesn't excuse the dismissive, callous finger pointing. Maybe, just maybe, bad things really do happen to good people. Those who are more well off have the luxury of making judgments. "That worthless homeless guy should get a fucking job and stay out of my sight." "That skimpy hoe was out too late dressed like that. She was totally asking for it." "I won't take his medical problems as seriously as I should. It's his own damn fault he's a fat smoker so I don't have to treat him."
Blaming seems so much easier for some people rather than having a sense of compassion. Not justifiable, but they find comfort and false reassurance by telling themselves that it can't happen to them because they are somehow better.

[Guest Loki]

I agree with this to some extent as someone who’s life is a result of factors I couldn’t control. Too many people have told me I am where I am becuase of what I choose - but I didn’t choose to be “homeschooled” by a religious fanatic while being cut off from the world.

 

As a result I don’t have any sort of formal education. Couple that with my physical disability (which to a lot of people insist isn’t a big of a deal) I litterally cannot get a job.

 

Every single job requires at least a high school education. And if you’re a woman you have to smile - which I physicially cannot do. If you think smiling isn’t required may I remind you all job listings for the public say right in their ads you must bring a smile or something similar.

 

Try one day where you do not smile. Try one job interview where you do not smile.

 

Now I said I agree to an extent. This is why: we are someone in charge of our destiny.

 

True, I can’t get a conventional job. And I tried for the past decade to have a normal life - I even got a job at McDonald’s for a little while becuase the manager was so laid back he didn’t care about anything other than folks showing up and doing their job. (I lost the job when his wife took over.)

 

But I’m still trying. I’m taking a crack at social media. I’m lucky enough to have a phone so I can do this - but I only got it becuase long ago a manager took a chance on me.

 

My point is, everyone has something they can do. If all you do is sit around feeling sorry for yourself, bemoaning your situation, then it doesn’t matter how you got into it. It’s your fault you’re sill there. YOU have to try. Go to job interviews, even if you don’t think you can do it. Try unconventional ways to make money!

 

Sometimes no matter what we do we have no choice but to be in hard situations and that isn’t you’re fault. Humans rely on others - to say one person has control of their life if grossly oversimplified and wrong.

 

We as a society need to be more open to helping. We have a victim-blaming culture. This is wrong and we should help those who need it!

 

All becuase we can do something, the solution is still largely on others. We rely on others to employ us, to buy from us, to communicate - humans are social creatures.

 

We have to look at circumstances. I don’t know of a single person who is where they are solely due to them. Good or bad, our lives are largely chance, the result of how others treat us, and our own attitudes.

Edited February 2, 2018 by Loki’s Shadow

[Mikaitaku]

This sounds like a rant.