Agreed. Although My friend is a nice guy and his folks are nice people, a lack of empathy invariably forms the basis of passive cruelty. Not empathy as in "let

Agreed. Although My friend is a nice guy and his folks are nice people, a lack of empathy invariably forms the basis of passive cruelty. Not empathy as in "let's forgive everyone for everything", but "let me honestly consider your point of view even it may conflict with the way I'm supporting myself". This is, of course, generally impossible for most people, including myself, since it takes a great deal of mental and financial security to weather that kind of introspection.