Emotional Response to Media?

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I also remember when a good friend of mine was hospitalized with cancer. It was his second bout with it, and I was pretty sure he would not make it. Other friends of his, and his wife, all flocked to the hospital, inundating him with their company, their emotional displays, etc. He had just had massive surgery, and was very weak. I phoned him, and asked was there anything I could do. It turned out the he would need some help at home; just a few hours a day, when he was discharged. I arranged to help with that. I saw no use in bothering him in the hospital when he was so weak, nor standing around his bedside crying and carrying on. Perhaps others thought that I was cold and unfeeling, because I didn't visit him at the hospital.

By the same token, when I had major surgery, I told no one. I didn't want them to do that to me, either. Who in their right mind wants to entertain company when they look and feel their worse?

I see no reason to be ashamed - I don't feel much, or anything, about suffering which isn't near to me or people I care for (or cats - cats have a special place in my affection). When the twin towers fell down, I was only interested to see which building got to take its place on the tallest-buildings list. But I'm not a menace to society, in fact I enjoy being useful where I can - its a nice ego boost - so I'm good in an emergency which isn't affecting me, because I can think straight when everyone else is panicking.

I don't think there's any obligation for me, Sublyme, or anyone to have particular feelings about other people, and it's unfortunate that Sublyme feels ashamed of the way she is - it's just more neurodiversity - it's not like I can control when and what I feel, right? Sure there are advantages to being able to keep a straight face when something tragic but funny happens, but this is just fitting in with the NTs, not hiding being a 'bad person' or anything.