When my wife uses this line of reasoning I point out that she's taking solace in other people's pain. It's kind of a joke, but it's also kind of true. Don't need to minimize your own suffering just because someone else suffered more.
But I’m sure you want to help the person who is suffering more before you help the person who is suffering less yes? The idea that “suffering is suffering” is almost sociopathic.
So if the suffering of others bothers us, all we need to do is remind ourselves it is their fault they are letting the pain get to them, and go on about our business. Hurrah!
This is like saying other people are suffering more than you so your suffering is moot. Let's not tolerate injustices just because others have it worse.
No clue why you're being downvoted, what you say is the correct response. Suffering is all around us and deep, but that's not license to inflict more of it on others.
That's simply not true, and I'm not entirely sure what would motivate someone to say such a thing. I would speculate, however, that it's a gleeful kind of trolling, a chance to say, "But it was your fault!" in the face of someone in great pain.
Consider the case where your child dies. Yet, you chose to have a child, knowing that he or she may die. So, you are also suffering from a circumstance of your choosing, no? Well, no, that is absurd. In fact, any misfortune can be similarly characterized as "of your choosing" since choice always affects the situation we experience. The logical problem is that the situation is not a function only of choice; change factors in, as do the choices of others. The ethical, or moral problem is that such a statement openly expresses contempt for those in pain, and a positive desire to increase that pain, and I think sadists like that serve no purpose on this Earth.
That would make sense if other people's suffering was equal to my own. But its not, their problems are dramatically easier to solve, ameliorate, w.e. Not to mention, being aware of someone elses problems does absolutely nothing to help them, it might make you more depressed, but it sure as fuck wont HELP you.
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