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Is that sarcasm? "Ability to listen to others" and especially "Empathy" are the very opposite attributes of people "running all major world powers right now"

ben_w 5y ago
While it certainly feels like that when you’re in a particular politician’s out-group, I think they literally could not even get to play on the national political stage without being really good at those behaviours. Even the worst politicians, those that I personally hate with vitriol, those whom I doubt even have a rich inner mental world, absolutely do demonstrate listening to the person in front of them. It may not be real empathy, just affectation, but the effect of the affect is the same on the support base they need in order to get elected, or in some cases even chosen as a candidate.
belter 5y ago
It's not sarcasm, because my comment was not if the persons politically in charge of the major world powers, have those traits in the correct measure. I was pointing to the fact the paper is not measuring those traits, and they are certainly more important than mental speed. And even that, the paper says until 60 only decreases as older persons take more time to more carefully consider their decisions. OP seemed to be worried that as they are older, the paper would imply their mental ability was somewhat diminished or less capable, and I pointed to other traits very important, the paper does not analyze.
samus 5y ago
They absolutely need those abilities. How else to judge who is safe to ally with, and for how long, and when your underlings start to rebel against you? Insult them however you want, but don't underestimate them. Or the powers behind their thrones!
- goodpoint 5y ago
  What you described has little to do with empathy.
  - samus 5y ago
    It's exactly what is called the "dark side of empathy and emotional intelligence". https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/the-dark-side-of-empathy.html https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/the...

ben_w 5y ago

While it certainly feels like that when you’re in a particular politician’s out-group, I think they literally could not even get to play on the national political stage without being really good at those behaviours. Even the worst politicians, those that I personally hate with vitriol, those whom I doubt even have a rich inner mental world, absolutely do demonstrate listening to the person in front of them. It may not be real empathy, just affectation, but the effect of the affect is the same on the support base they need in order to get elected, or in some cases even chosen as a candidate.

belter 5y ago

It's not sarcasm, because my comment was not if the persons politically in charge of the major world powers, have those traits in the correct measure. I was pointing to the fact the paper is not measuring those traits, and they are certainly more important than mental speed. And even that, the paper says until 60 only decreases as older persons take more time to more carefully consider their decisions. OP seemed to be worried that as they are older, the paper would imply their mental ability was somewhat diminished or less capable, and I pointed to other traits very important, the paper does not analyze.

samus 5y ago

They absolutely need those abilities. How else to judge who is safe to ally with, and for how long, and when your underlings start to rebel against you? Insult them however you want, but don't underestimate them. Or the powers behind their thrones!

goodpoint 5y ago
What you described has little to do with empathy.
- samus 5y ago
  It's exactly what is called the "dark side of empathy and emotional intelligence". https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/the-dark-side-of-empathy.html https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/the...