4 ms·
Re the reactions to your pain, I think there is a belief deeply embedded in the American psyche that most any problem can be solved. And mentioning a difficult
by ternaryoperator 6y ago
Re the reactions to your pain, I think there is a belief deeply embedded in the American psyche that most any problem can be solved. And mentioning a difficult problem brings out this aspect.
In almost all cases, I like this quality and the underlying optimism it implies, but I also understand how it can be annoying and often come across as unconsciously insensitive.
Sometimes, expressions of sympathy are all that's needed or wanted.
- draw_down 6y agoI don’t think the root of it is what you’re describing. It’s just plain old fear of death. If your pain can be fixed, it means you aren’t at risk of just keeling over dead one day. Except that’s exactly what will happen. And in all such matters, “you” means me, “for whom the bell tolls”-style.