Are You A "Caring" Person?

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No, but I play one rather well. I am rarely affected by the plights of others, but I try to help whenever I can, simply because I think it the right thing to do.

I'm a very caring person, but I don't always pick up on emotional context, so it may take me a while to realize that someone is actually upset or angry about something. I also tend to think that other's emotional displays are a bit over the top and may not initially understand why someone feels the way they do, even though I do try to work it through intellectually. I've been told both that I am very subtle in my emotional displays and that I wear my emotions on my sleeve -- two completely opposite descriptions and they both came from the same person, so I'm not sure what to think about that. Someone's confused, but I'm not sure who.

One thing that makes me seem less caring is that I tend to forget about people I don't see every day. I'll meet someone I like well enough, but after a while I just don't think about them and then a month or two will have gone by. I'll get an email or something at a time when it makes me feel pressured so I ignore it and that's that, no more friend. Also, while I care very much about people in general and believe deeply that everyone should be treated fairly and with compassion and understanding -- I can become very emotional about this -- it's hard for me to care much about the details of the lives of specific individuals unless they are very close to me.

Had to mention, I love your sig, I can tell you've got a good grasp of what time is.


I noticed a post about 9/11, that was my 21st birthday, I was sleeping in a car in my moms driveway at the time (out of preference, my own comfortable little nest I own and can lock and drive around in), I came inside that morning to see the first tower burning, the second plane hit literally seconds after I sat down to watch what was happening.

Watched the coverage through the day out of a sense of curiosity regarding such a surreal event, but I wasn't really emotionally effected until a specific thing happened, and to this day it makes me cry when it's brought up.

Fight 93, the recordings of the phone calls, in particular the ones with them talking about taking the plane back, and that last bit after one man put the phone down.

"Ok, let's do this... let's roll."

I'm crying now, cause I know if I was in that situation I would feel it was my duty to save not only my own life, but the lives of those on the plane, and anyone who could be injured if it were crashed. I know without an ounce of hesitation, even if no one else joined me, I would have attacked and done my damndest to kill the hi-jackers.

As simple restraint is not efficient one on one, but I trained myself in preparation to kill my father for years before he commited suicide, I know I could blitz three men, armed with boxcutters or not, and disable or kill them rapidly. My dad was a nutty ex-marine who had been swinging a framing hammer for most of his life, I wasn't eager to let him get his hands on me, but I owed him a death for what I watched him do to my mother. I know honestly that I would have done my damndest to stop a hijacking, and I know I would not have stopped fighting while there was breath left in me.


I know what was going through their heads, I can put myself in that situation, and knowing they did it fills me with an odd sort of pride at the pure heroism, yet terrible sadness that they died in the process.

I know it should be wrong to say I've never shed a tear over the other deaths that day, but it's true. I'm sad they died, it's tragic truly, but I can't identify with that situation the same way.

I'm an extremely caring person, which has worked well for me as a nurse. Oddly enough, I get really good at reading what my patients need and providing it. Even people who don't speak my language, have dementia, or can't speak at all. I am particularily good with the dying. I get personal thank you cards from patients and their families.
Odd for an aspie yes?