# What It's Like to Not Care By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-09-11 Exactly 22 years ago, I had my wisdom teeth removed. While the events of 9/11 were taking place, I was in twilight and on all kinds of drugs. As a result, my memories and thoughts about the terrorist attacks are mostly information and not emotional. If anything, I recall being annoyed that nothing else was on TV. I know what the attacks looked like, the context, the tragedy and suffering, and the results. But there is no feeling of shock or worry. I was out of my mind. I only experienced the event via proxy through the stories and news coverage. This is not to downplay the events of that day and all of those impacted. The point highlights how one can intellectually know something without an emotional connection. Instead, I know how I should feel about the event based on what others seem to be experiencing, but those feelings only exist if I put myself in their shoes. There are no post-trauma or negative feelings - just intellectual understanding. A person who doesn't experience the normal, collective emotions of events and society may be called a sociopath. My mini experience with this, when everyone else in society was having strong feelings, has been enlightening about the role of emotions in society. But, it is also instructive in knowing how ruthless humans can be when they don't care or feel. As tragic as it was on 9/11, I just wanted to watch my normal TV shows. What other minor tragedies do individuals face when modern organizations reward being an emotionless robot? What about when sociopathic managers rise to the top because nothing they do keeps them up at night, and the profits continue to pour in? It's time to consider alternatives because caring and solidarity means something. Rewarding it seems evident unless you don't care. #### Related Items [[Experience]] [[Emotions]] [[Organization]] [[Solidarity]] [[Psychology]] [[Management]]