It’s an age where everybody has something to say, and nearly nobody is willing to listen. Each opinion seems like a battleground — politics, popular culture, even the way you consume your food or dress can cause a fight on social media. In the midst of quote tweets, wars in the comments section, and “cancelled” lists, we have lost one little thing: the understanding that it is possible to disagree without dehumanizing.
Empathy here is practically revolutionary.
Outrage Is Easy, Understanding Is Hard
Consider the way we communicate online. The instant we don’t like what someone says, we label them — “problematic”, “ignorant”, “brainwashed”. It’s easier to attack than to comprehend. But behind that tweet or post is a human being — influenced by their experiences, where they were brought up, their fears, and their bias, just like us. Empathy does not necessarily mean you must agree with them; it means acknowledging that they are human as well.
The internet has made it easy to be outraged and hard to be nuanced. Algorithms favor anger — the hotter the debate, the broader the reach. Thus, we get stuck on this cycle of moral righteousness and performative wokeness. We cease to converse with others and begin to speak down at them. Any disagreement turns into a battle to triumph over, rather than a discussion to educate ourselves.
Empathy Doesn’t Mean Agreement
Empathy turns that script on its head. It encourages you to think twice before you respond. To question why someone would hold the beliefs that they do, rather than how dare they. Perhaps their reality is based in a place of fear. Perhaps it’s what they have known their whole life. Perhaps they’ve never had the opportunity to understand otherwise. You don’t need to agree with their opinions — but you can attempt to empathize with the feeling behind them.
In real life, empathy might resemble something so mundane — a friend with a differing political view, a family member with a philosophy you abhor. You can still dine together, still have memories, still love each other. Because relationships aren’t based on ideological agreement — they’re based on respect.
Kindness as Rebellion
And honestly, that’s revolutionary now.
Empathy is not softness. It doesn’t mean abandoning your values or remaining mute when things are awry. It simply means leading with humanity, not with hostility. It’s a decision to choose connection over contempt. It’s being able to say, “I see you. I still disagree, but I see you.
In polarized times, empathy is not the popular option — it’s the courageous one. It’s what keeps discussions as discussions, not battles. Perhaps if we all exercised a bit more of it — online, offline, everywhere — the world needn’t be so divided after all.