A New Study on Empathy
They’ve done
it again; scientists have done a study showing that after taking Amesetapenaman…
Aphenemanaspa…oh hell, after you take Tylenol you are less empathetic. I learned this today on the 11 o’clock news in
a 13 second story that the station was promoting for about four hours.
“Tylenol will make you a nasty
bastard! News at eleven.”
This begs
the question, “Who gives a flying fig?”
Apparently
scientists do, because they spent a lot of money, probably our money, to make
this great discovery.
How they
came to this conclusion was not explained on the 13 second news clip I just
saw. What I am supposed to do with this
information was also not explained.
How did they even make this determination? I guess they
showed people pictures of a dead puppy and measured the volume of their “Aww.”
Then they gave them some Tylenol and after an hour showed them another
picture of a dead puppy. Their collective
“Aww’s” were several decibels lower.
Obviously
this proves that taking Tylenol lessens your feelings of empathy so if you take
Tylenol, don’t look at pictures of dead puppies or people will think you are a
cold hearted prick.
So what am I to do
with this information?
“Did you just break up with your girlfriend
of 8 years? I don’t really care, but of
course I just took a Tylenol so pay no attention to my non-empathetic response.”
Maybe if I
have a headache and know I am liable to hear some bad news I should delay the
Tylenol relief until I can show proper concern for something sad.
Anyway.
Great
information experts and scientists; money and years of higher education well
spent. If you take
Tylenol you will be less empathetic.
Perhaps you should think twice before taking Tylenol.
Or
Maybe this
study proves that if you are in pain you are more empathetic than when you are
not in pain and taking Tylenol works for lessening pain. They did not address this possibility on the
13 second news clip.
Either way,
I don’t really care.
Waste of time, like many other scientific results that are thrust upon us - perhaps scientists have nothing better to do. It made a great post though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a weird study.... maybe pain relief in general makes you more emphathetic? IDK. Odd.
ReplyDeleteI don't really care either. A whole 13 seconds you say. Why so much time?
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day Joe. ☺
I don't either (care, that is) It just gives me a wee little chuckle.
ReplyDeleteI read an article that Tylenol lowers "existential dread," too.
ReplyDeleteSo you're less empathetic but with no existential dread. Unless you happen to be a writer, you're fine.
I wonder if I can get me one of those government grants to study something? "Is there a correlation between stumping one's toe and the increased decibel level of otherwise normal foul language, and is it affected by taking Amesetapenaman....oh hell, Tylenol?" I'm thinking a couple 'o mil should cover it. ;)
ReplyDeleteI haven't taken any Tylenol today so I can be really enthusiastic about this post.
ReplyDeleteThis post gave me a headache--do you have any Tylenol?
ReplyDeleteThis begs the question, "Why?" I feel less than empathetic about these sorts of inane studies. Better donate the money used to some disaster and show scientific empathy.
ReplyDeleteOh good grief. I can't wait for the first "not guilty by Tylenol" defense to hit the legal system.
ReplyDeleteTylenol does nothing for my pain, so I guess it doesn't affect my empathy level, either.
ReplyDeleteRelieving your pain dulls your ability to feel empathy, why does that not surprise me? So when you take a pain reliever, remember you may have to work harder to have a proper response to bad news.
ReplyDeleteOh sheesh, now I've got The Great Song of Indifference playing in my head. All your fault.
ReplyDeleteActually it's a great song. You should learn to play it on your guitar. See if I care.
What? Well, I take the cheap generic brand. Maybe I'm safe?
ReplyDeleteIf your Tylenol is the same as our Panadol (paracetamol), that stuff is useless. For anything.
ReplyDeleteYou should try snorting a Tylenol.
ReplyDeleteR
What I wonder is why this thirteen second snippet was considered news worthy.
ReplyDelete