To think society’s obsession with empathy has made people manipulative?

[BoundariesBeforeTears]

There’s a fine line between understanding someone and letting them control you emotionally. It feels like empathy has turned into currency - whoever can cry the loudest wins the argument. AIBU to think empathy without boundaries just rewards bad behaviour?

In the absence of examples it’s hard to comment.
empathy doesn’t have conditions it’s given freely
rewarding bad behaviour? Well that’s down to the transaction who are the participants?And what behaviour was rewarded

I meant more in the sense that ‘empathy’ sometimes gets used to excuse or enable bad behaviour, like constantly forgiving someone who never changes or being guilt-tripped into tolerating things you shouldn’t. Of course empathy’s valuable but without boundaries it stops being compassion and starts being manipulation.

@BoundariesBeforeTears are you talking about crybullies?

What’s on your mind? What’s going on

Yes, pretty much that. The type who use emotion as a shield or weapon, where any disagreement gets spun as cruelty. It’s like empathy-jacking: turning sensitivity into control.

Nothing dramatic, just an observation. I’ve noticed how often emotional appeal seems to trump accountability these days, both online and in real life. It just got me thinking.