Displaying emotions

I also disagree with those saying you can't feel another's pain. We can see with our eyes and hear with our ears the pain of another person. Those observations can translate into feelings.

Thanks, I was just checking before commenting. I have never ever heard that phrase used in any serious context. Friends might say it to each other in a sarky or sassy way when they are sharing an experience, usually funny or annoying, but never in the context we have at the moment. Americans are more likely to say they are sorry for your loss. If you don't know the deceased, personally I don't mind that phrase.

If May had made the comment about feeling someone's pain, would you be making such an issue of it anniebach? Presumably you think the "deeply saddened" statement she made was an adequate response to such a horrific event. I found it a rather formal and unnatural turn of phrase and I wonder if the people who affected found it more comforting than someone offering a more personal approach.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=db7NpBBULVU

The earliest I can find it recorded is by Bill Clinton 1992

'I feel your pain' Wilma....... another US import, meaning I empathise with you, sometimes merely I sympathise, or agree with you.

I feel your pain, it isn't British

Annie what are you saying is an American phrase?

I disagree, and you too are arguing are you not? It's an over the top American phrase I would say the same no matter who said it, what is wrong with - I am so deeply sorry , it has suited this country for generations,

I find it quite sad that you need to argue about this, to take away from people their feelings on what they feel.

There have been lots of bits of research to show that people can feel other people's pain, but I don't really want to reduce it to that. Find out for yourself.

No, we cannot experience the raw grief they must be feeling. We may know what it is like, empathise, sympathise, feel the anguish of someone trying to escape or trying to save their child; we know what grief is like from our own experiences but it is theirs, not ours.

Empathy , pity, sympathy, sorrow, we can all feel these because they are our own emotions, we cannot feel another pain, if a hear of someone grieving I can feel deep sorrow for them but I cannot feel or experience their emotional pain, it's their pain.

You used the word "empathy" *Annie", are you now saying there is no such thing?

You can claim what you wish, but it is impossible to feel another persons pain, but I accept you would claim black is white to defend Corbyn,

Agreed, trisher. I never felt that I needed to fall off a ladder to feel my husband's pain. I could see it and feel it every time I looked at him.

And as he obviously felt empathy Annie he felt their pain

empathy-the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions : the ability to share someone else's feelings.

He shared their pain that is empathy.

Yes I am sure all of us felt the same, we can feel, sympathy, empathy, sorrow, anger, but we cannot feel another persons pain,

Lovely chap

I don't know about feeling others' pain but people can show sympathy and say a kindly word - if I were involved in some terrible incident I'd like to think that an MP, local politician, etc would turn up and show some genuine interest.

Just back to pain, I think you can feel some pain - I'm sure all of us have imagined how it would be if we were in that tower block, or even worse, if that were our grandchildren seen waving out the windows. My stomach lurches every time I see pictures of that burnt blackened shell.

The late Tony Benn lived a few streets away from Grenfell Tower - I'm sure he would have walked around to meet survivors and volunteers and they would have been glad to see him.

Your understanding of communism and my understanding of it would be sooooo different Whitewave , same as defining socialism, I am a socialist but according to some here I am a Tory supporter

annie you misunderstand me. I know what I understand by the term communism, but your use of the word seems so different to my understanding that I wondered what you understand by the term.

Whitewave, if you don't know what communism means may I suggest you read up the history

I know he knows them Jen but he does not and cannot feel their pain , it is such a silly statement and it irritates me no matter who spouts it , so theatrical

Yes but what do You understand by the term Communism? I can't really understand what you mean by the term

A person who is a member of the communist party supports communism and this ex member defended Stalin ,