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it's ridiculous because, uh,  where do you draw the line?

I don't draw the line. What are you asking? Do I feel guilty when a woman is raped? No. I don't. Angry, sure. Do I feel obligated to give her money? To pay her medical bills? To put her up in a home? No. I don't. I don't blame her, but i don't thnk anyone is responsible to help fix things, except the one who hurt her and herself. On the other hand, if someone i know is ever in that position, I'll do everything i can to help them because I have compassion. There is a vast difference though between someone feelign compassion and being kind, and someone being held accountable for things that they have no stake in.

That youre responsible for EVERYTHING bad that happens to you as a result of your physical location in the world. but it seems like you have to reconigze choice, or lack thereof.

I don't think 'responsible' in the particular case is what we're talking about. certainly no one is responsible for a hurricane, an earthquake, a blizzard,.. no one has any choice about them happening. Still, once they do, they do.
It isn't anyone's fault, but then again, we aren't all obligated to fix things. In each of our lives, we do what we can, and that's it. Some of us get it worse than others.. some get it better. Society isn't obligated to equalize things

guess that IS life, but it doesnt stop it from being ridiculous. and just going "eh, its their fault" wont accomplish anything other than maybe make YOU (a general you) feel not crappy about lacking compassion.

Life is ridiculous. It's no one's 'fault' -- storms happen. It's not about 'blame' or fault. A person lives in an earthquake area, they take a risk. When that risk is realized, I feel somewhat bad, but I think it's offensive to expect society to pick up the tab. The truth is, if people die in those areas where risks are often realized, eventually, no people iwll live there, and then there will be no further risk.

(and it DOES seem like lacking compassion, because i think compassion is defined not by you feeling bad about it but by DOING something to help, like, if we cant see your compassion, it's worthlesS)

I don't think one always has to help or do something to be compassionate. The value of that compassion might not be particularly high, but, that doesn't mean a person is heartless, merely impotent to help.

and i'm not trying to be a dick, i totalllly know where youre coming from and i talk like that a lot, but i guess its getting to me.

Well. Let's just both hope you don't die in an earth quake. I'd feel bad.

• stephan