I truly believe the world right now is going through an empathy crisis what with the rise of the far right. Humans evolved empathy to better survive and take care of each other. Our neoliberal capitalist world rewards narcissism, individuality, and exploitation. The literal opposite of empathy. It’s being un-learned, people are literally devolving because of profit and systemic abuse and violence perpetuated by those at the top.

And you are perpetuating that. Downplaying the lived fucking reality of countless women is utterly disgusting. Real life is dramatic. Because it’s real. It’s horrible. It’s painful. It’s terrifying. But that is what this woman absolutely went through. And so many others have as well. And it stays with them their entire lives, constantly following them, the trauma coming back when the body and mind attempt to protect them from experiencing that trauma again.

The state of education is so piss poor, and it’s on purpose such that we remain divided so that those on top can continue to escape accountability. Everyone should be educated dramatically about what went on here. Because this is not uncommon. There should be better education of what rape is and it shouldn’t be censored or hidden away, it should be given the weight it’s deserved. And drug use should be educated as well. The effects, ensuring it’s done safely, that there’s no such thing as consent when mind-altering substances are involved.

I’m glad this case is getting people to talk. Because it’s really exposing how so many people lack empathy and can’t see themselves in the position of others. It’s getting people to talk about what consent and rape really is. But man is it tough to see so many people downplay the situation and even blame the victim for what happened, or even outright deny that anything happened at all.

And to tie this little essay in a bow, it tends to be those who lack empathy. Which empathy correlates with higher intelligence which correlates with not being a conservative, fascist freak. It’s all connected in the end. And we’re living through an empathy crisis brought on by neoliberal capitalism and its focus on individuality that places the fault of all bad outcomes on the individual. That is the fight we find ourselves in today.

Be radically empathetic.