EDD: Empathy Deficit Disorder

Everything is a disease, everything is a disorder, no one is normal, nothing is normal anymore.

While looking over CNN today I came across an article about EDD (Empathy Deficit Disorder). Here is a small clip from this article that made me think, perhaps something is wrong with me and everyone I know:

Instead, on good days, she'd say, "Why are you crying? Nothing is wrong." And on bad days: "You'd better toughen up because life can get a lot worse." Looking back at my 20-something self, I realize that if, as LaBier says, empathy is "the ability or the willingness to experience the world from someone else's point of view," I wasn't brought up to be able to do that.

At least my lack of empathy was not unusual. Having practiced as a psychotherapist for 35 years, LaBier believes that what he calls empathy deficit disorder (EDD) is rampant among Americans.

LaBier says we unlearn whatever empathy skills we've picked up while coming of age in a culture that focuses on acquisition and status more than cooperation and values "moving on" over thoughtful reflection. LaBier is convinced that EDD is at the heart of modernity's most common problems, macro (war) and micro (divorce).

I think 90% of the world's population most likely suffers from EDD. No one gives a flying fuck about much of anyone else anymore. Why should we? Life is nothing but a rat race. Who can I step on to get to the top of the ladder? Who do I have to push off to stay there?

I know I'm not a very empathetic person, but does that mean there is a problem with this? I don't think so. I personally look at it as a means of self preservation. I only allow in the things and people I feel are important, and everything else gets shut out, and locked down. I keep things, and people, at an arms length, just to be safe. I see this as something very much necessary in our day and age. If we allowed everyone in, and allowed everyone close, it would leave nothing for ourselves.

Look at our president and chief, George W, he's a fine example of the typical, non-empathetic American. Perhaps he suffers from EDD. Hey, Georgie 'ol buddy, 'ol pal, if you read this, YOU HAVE EDD (possibly ED too, but that's a whole other debate!).

But then again, most men don't show hardly any empathy. ATTENTION ALL MEN, YOU ALL SUFFER FROM EDD, GO SEEK HELP.

I think I am going to go home and tell David he suffers from EDD.