I squash bugs for the hell of it sometimes. Squashing things can be satisfying. I guess that means I’m a psychopath (really should be sadist, right?) too?
It certainly feels like I empathize with people at times, and my goals are quite altruistic. But I don’t empathize much with bugs. I’m a little skeptical they feel anything that I would classify as pain. How much nervous tissue do they have, really?
Could you put me in a situation where I had the same kind of lack of empathy for larger creatures or even humans? Possibly. I don’t have strong inhibitions against this mindset, but that may be because I don’t have strong inhibitions against “forbidden thoughts” in general. For example, I don’t revile pedophiles like you’re supposed to in US culture. (Although this may not be a very high bar relative to LW.)
Note also that this is my alt account, soon to be deleted. Maybe other reasonable, friendly people without alt accounts would also squash bugs but are afraid of explaining themselves for fear of being labeled sadists.
I squash bugs for the hell of it sometimes. Squashing things can be satisfying. I guess that means I’m a psychopath (really should be sadist, right?) too?
It certainly feels like I empathize with people at times, and my goals are quite altruistic. But I don’t empathize much with bugs. I’m a little skeptical they feel anything that I would classify as pain. How much nervous tissue do they have, really?
Could you put me in a situation where I had the same kind of lack of empathy for larger creatures or even humans? Possibly. I don’t have strong inhibitions against this mindset, but that may be because I don’t have strong inhibitions against “forbidden thoughts” in general. For example, I don’t revile pedophiles like you’re supposed to in US culture. (Although this may not be a very high bar relative to LW.)
Note also that this is my alt account, soon to be deleted. Maybe other reasonable, friendly people without alt accounts would also squash bugs but are afraid of explaining themselves for fear of being labeled sadists.
Yeah, but when I’m in such a mood I usually use plastic glasses.