Today, I find myself thinking of empathy and condescension, in a practical sense.

Say there's an old person on the bus, standing, and I'm sitting. Nobody seems to be willing to give up their seat, so I offer it up; The old person refuses, but thanks me; I feel good about myself. Alright, nothing wrong there, I'd say -- I saw someone that might struggle to stand during the ride, and, as someone that wouldn't struggle to do the same, I offered to trade what could be a significant struggle of another for my mild discomfort. That's empathy.

Yet, it somehow leaves a slightly sour taste in my mouth. It is not that I think that old people somehow deserve to avoid suffering at the cost of my comfort; If anything, I'd say that it is the duty of the old guard to make way for the new blood, just at it is the duty of all to work for the future of all. That does include the elderly, in every way. Then, why do I offer the seat? Well, it's because I think the old person is weak, of course. I think they will struggle, or maybe I see them struggling, and I judge that they are weak while I am strong. Is that not condescending? After all, while they might struggle, they could also prefer it! After all, it is the duty of the older to make it so that the ones to come have as good as time as possible. If anything, it should be expected that the old person would cede their seat to me! It is pure condescension that I would offer my seat to them; It's as if saying that they are so pitifully weak that they can't even properly carry out their duty.

That sounds completely absurd, though. Moreover, I simply prefer not to see others struggle, no matter their age or condition; It is a selfish desire, on my part, as I am a selfish person. I don't want to see others suffer, so I will gladly trade-in my comfort.

Still, is that condescending? Maybe. I don't know. I guess it doesn't really matter...

I find myself thinking that the best way to live really is to be selfish; To do what I want is the only way to live well. All I can do is hope that I want to be good.

I wore my black trousers today.