For Free Write Friday
Empathy
The Rant
This topic really go my attention. OMG why don”t people listen when I say “I know”? Why do they keep yammering on till my ears bleed, I forget what I was doing, where I am and what I wanted in the first place? This must have happened three times or four times Wednesday until finally I was getting a lesson on how to use my new Smart Phone. All of our little group shook our head “yes we know” how to turn it on and dial the dang thing, but the “Genius” teaching us went ahead and showed us anyway. The store is noisy and crowed it’s dinner time we want to learn how to save our batteries and not use up our minutes. Who is having Empathy for us?
Insight
Still playing over and over how much of other peoples stuff (I’m using the polite word here) I had to listen to all day the memory of a big loud 7th grade student of mine popped into my head. Every time I’d get about half way through and Art demonstration and lecture he would yell out “yes we know let us go to work”. Of course as a teacher I couldn’t allow that kind of interruption, but I always thought there was some truth to his unfiltered frustration. The classroom was a big barn like studio; sound bounced all over the place, while I had to make sure each and every wiggly 12 year old knew what to do other wise chaos would ensue. I wonder if this bright (but not to socially ept) fellow felt like I did this week in the Apple Store. I felt invisible, unheard and wanted to get on with what I came there to do. I don’t want to be talked at and neither did he.
Solution
Communicate. Really Communicate. Listen as well as talk! When someone says they know something, they get it, they understand believe them. Maybe as the teacher I could have said ” I believe you do understand how to create a water color wash. Can you use your wonderfully big voice to tell the rest of the class so we all can get to work?” Sure, I could have been dealing with a bully. I wonder if we truly regard one another as valuable beings with something to offer and imagine how they feel (the definition of Empathy) there might be less bullying. I wish I could go back in time and see if it would work with that kid.
PS I still don’t know how to save the battery life in my IPHONE but I know how to talk to the non human Siri – “Siri remind me to listen”, “When?” ” Always”
Light Words 
This is great. I understand your frustration but you gave me a good laugh. I thank you for that.
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So how do I save my battery? Wink happy to provide a Friday Smile! 🙂
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*Chuckles* I’m with barbaramattio! It’s as if the person doing the presentation was stuck on autopilot and was too afraid to veer off his (probably rehearsed) path!
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spect, so. That’s what I needed to learn as a teacher too. Glad to meet you Spirited Nerd.
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Glad to meet you as well! I’ll definitely read more.
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Too bad the class wasted your time. There are some tips at http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html.
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I should’ve just asked you. Thanks for the tip.
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lol! I love it! I especially like how you laid this out from the problem to the solution. Clever write! I really enjoyed the story and the humor, as I needed a smile today! Thank you for that! =) Big hugs to you for writing for us at FWF! See you back soon!!! xox
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“Will write for smiles and hugs”. That will be my new bumper sticker 🙂 So glad I could bring a smile. Truth be told I rarely write write this much, I was really inspired thank you very much Kellie.
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Funny. Sometimes I’d just like to go back in time to the old phones where you pick them up and some old gal says “number please”. Can you remember that?? You might be just enough younger where you only remember the “dial” phones. Gee, now we see those “dial” phones in antique stores. Are we getting old or not. lol
NDL
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Maybe your are getting old. I don’t plan to. Now I have a phone that talks to me just like the operators LOL 😉
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What you say I can relate to – I have found that people no longer really listen to one another. And make assumptions that they understand what you need based on your age, gender, the clothes you are wearing…
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Well said Coline, Let’s here it for listening and not assuming thank you for your wise comment. !
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I know what you mean! I love how you flipped this one, then flipped it back. Cell phone users (this one anyway) need empathy, too! A very enjoyable write!
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Big Thank You Smile 🙂 Charles! So glad you read the whole thing People should not assume that because I have this phone I’m a techie. My first App was bird calls and books.. Next will be the night sky.
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“Remind me to listen.” This is a good lesson I need to keep learning. Thanks for the post – laughed out loud about people who keep explaining until your ears bleed – yes.
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I didn’t even tag this as humor. I get such a kick out of how many people I made laugh when I was so mad. I can hear you laughing out all the way out here 🙂 !
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May I suggest a further resource to learn more about empathy and compassion.
The Center for Building a Culture of Empathy
The Culture of Empathy website is the largest internet portal for resources and information about the values of empathy and compassion. It contains articles, conferences, definitions, experts, history, interviews, videos, science and much more about empathy and compassion.
http://CultureOfEmpathy.com
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Namaste, Edwin.
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