4 ms·

I think writing out anything, even just your own thoughts on a subject, makes you a vastly more empathetic person... Why do you think that?

keiferski 14y ago
Not the OP, but I do write a lot. For me, it's because writing forces you to get out of your head. When you write (presumably in language that people other than you can easily understand), you're forced to think about how others will read it. Ergo, empathy. This is expanded even further when you begin to consider your audience ("So I'm writing for school children... how do I communicate this in a way that they will understand?" and so on).
- omellet 14y ago
  I think you've hit the nail on the head. I don't think this is necessarily true for all writing, though. Political writing, press releases, thing of a nature where the point of the writing is to lead a person to a particular conclusion. Manipulation, in other words. I don't think I'd consider that process an empathetic one.
  - jamesrcole 14y ago
    Your comment has made me wonder: does learning how to manipulate better require (or help you to) learn how to empathise better, strange as that may sound? Are better manipulators also good empathisers? I'd never thought about that possible connection before.
    - realitygrill 14y ago
      Yes. On a smartphone currently, so google Scott Aaronson's blog post on sympathy vs empathy and sociopaths.
  - jackpirate 14y ago
    Is there any type of writing where you're not trying to "manipulate" someone? I can't think of any.
bennylope 14y ago
Effective communication hinges on empathy. We're taught to write well (maybe) in terms of style and coherence, but effective writing, which persuades or fully informs, depends upon being able to anticipate the concerns and questions of the reader and then address them for the reader. Good writing goes a long way to making your work more comprehensible, but ultimately effective writing anticipates the reader.

keiferski 14y ago

Not the OP, but I do write a lot. For me, it's because writing forces you to get out of your head. When you write (presumably in language that people other than you can easily understand), you're forced to think about how others will read it. Ergo, empathy. This is expanded even further when you begin to consider your audience ("So I'm writing for school children... how do I communicate this in a way that they will understand?" and so on).

omellet 14y ago
I think you've hit the nail on the head. I don't think this is necessarily true for all writing, though. Political writing, press releases, thing of a nature where the point of the writing is to lead a person to a particular conclusion. Manipulation, in other words. I don't think I'd consider that process an empathetic one.
- jamesrcole 14y ago
  Your comment has made me wonder: does learning how to manipulate better require (or help you to) learn how to empathise better, strange as that may sound? Are better manipulators also good empathisers? I'd never thought about that possible connection before.
  - realitygrill 14y ago
    Yes. On a smartphone currently, so google Scott Aaronson's blog post on sympathy vs empathy and sociopaths.
- jackpirate 14y ago
  Is there any type of writing where you're not trying to "manipulate" someone? I can't think of any.

bennylope 14y ago

Effective communication hinges on empathy. We're taught to write well (maybe) in terms of style and coherence, but effective writing, which persuades or fully informs, depends upon being able to anticipate the concerns and questions of the reader and then address them for the reader. Good writing goes a long way to making your work more comprehensible, but ultimately effective writing anticipates the reader.