(no subject)
There is substantial reason to believe that a great chasm exists between the internal and the tangible; between the metaphysical and that which can be measured and proven. This chasm extends beyond the obvious confines of personal opinion and belief, spilling into how we as people think about each other and treat each other.
Compare two scenarios:
Jennifer is the single mom of two young kids. They live in an apartment (the rent for which Jennifer is behind on by two months) and Jennifer drives a 1991 Ford Tempo with transmission problems. Her mother died recently, after a twelve-year battle with cancer, and she is still recovering from the broken arm she suffered four months ago. With everything that she has going on, she doesn't have time for much of a social life, but rather centers herself on doing whatever she can to make sure her children are taken care of.
Marie is a thirty-something small-town magazine editor with one son, whom she visits every other weekend because her ex-husband has primary custody. Her boyfriend of two years adores her and plans to propose at some point in the next couple of months. She is a member of a nearby church but only attends about once a month, when she can pull herself out of bed. Marie suffers from severe clinical depression and has a very hard time going to work every day because she just can't seem to find the motivation to go.
Which situation will evoke more empathy from the general public? If I had to guess, I would say Jennifer's plight is theoretically more heartbreaking and is therefore more deserving of attention and aid. She is struggling financially, she is dealing with grief, worry, stress... she gets no help from the father of her children, and she is in danger of eviction. Marie, on the other hand, has all of her physical needs met. She makes decent money, lives in a comfortable house, and has reliable transportation.
But just for a second, let's ignore Maslow.
What it comes down to is the fact that having one's basic needs met does not constitute having a good life. What we see in people is only the very surface. For all we know, Jennifer broke her arm in the scuffle she had with her older child in her attempts to beat him. Maybe Marie is still reeling from the trauma of a violent rape. The truth is, it's so easy for us to triage the people we come into contact with on a daily basis. The Maries of the world can wait, because their problems are only internal. Internal problems aren't as urgent as the external issues of the world's Jennifers.
And maybe that's why I'm so adamant that I'm fine - because my problems are internal... because I have not experienced loss or physical trauma or outer despair. If there's nothing obvious (or visible) about a problem, then that problem must not exist. In order for something to merit attention, it must be tangible. After all, without some physical signs, how can evidence for its existence... exist?
Compare two scenarios:
Jennifer is the single mom of two young kids. They live in an apartment (the rent for which Jennifer is behind on by two months) and Jennifer drives a 1991 Ford Tempo with transmission problems. Her mother died recently, after a twelve-year battle with cancer, and she is still recovering from the broken arm she suffered four months ago. With everything that she has going on, she doesn't have time for much of a social life, but rather centers herself on doing whatever she can to make sure her children are taken care of.
Marie is a thirty-something small-town magazine editor with one son, whom she visits every other weekend because her ex-husband has primary custody. Her boyfriend of two years adores her and plans to propose at some point in the next couple of months. She is a member of a nearby church but only attends about once a month, when she can pull herself out of bed. Marie suffers from severe clinical depression and has a very hard time going to work every day because she just can't seem to find the motivation to go.
Which situation will evoke more empathy from the general public? If I had to guess, I would say Jennifer's plight is theoretically more heartbreaking and is therefore more deserving of attention and aid. She is struggling financially, she is dealing with grief, worry, stress... she gets no help from the father of her children, and she is in danger of eviction. Marie, on the other hand, has all of her physical needs met. She makes decent money, lives in a comfortable house, and has reliable transportation.
But just for a second, let's ignore Maslow.
What it comes down to is the fact that having one's basic needs met does not constitute having a good life. What we see in people is only the very surface. For all we know, Jennifer broke her arm in the scuffle she had with her older child in her attempts to beat him. Maybe Marie is still reeling from the trauma of a violent rape. The truth is, it's so easy for us to triage the people we come into contact with on a daily basis. The Maries of the world can wait, because their problems are only internal. Internal problems aren't as urgent as the external issues of the world's Jennifers.
And maybe that's why I'm so adamant that I'm fine - because my problems are internal... because I have not experienced loss or physical trauma or outer despair. If there's nothing obvious (or visible) about a problem, then that problem must not exist. In order for something to merit attention, it must be tangible. After all, without some physical signs, how can evidence for its existence... exist?