I think that some of these social experiments that try to compare the reactions of common street people to various characters in opposing or polarizing social status’ are dismissing another contributing variable altogether, when they paint the picture of ignorance, heartlessness, or other value-based judgement. The variable they are missing is called empathy, or the ability to relate to one’s situation.

In psychology there are a variety of “selves” that are contained within the ultimate “self.” In all of these, we see ourselves in various lights, one of which is highly idealistic. The fact that we explore these selves — particularly the idealistic self — allows us to relate to others who portray characteristics similar to one or more of our own “selves.”

Thus, when I speak of empathy and the ability to relate, I say so in the context of the imagined, idealistic self, and the experience of the everyday self. Not many common people have lived or imagined themselves as homeless, hungry, and alone. And, so, not many will relate unless it happens personally.

In the end, it’s my hypothesis that we do not ignore out of a lack of humanity, but out of an excess of it. If history has proven anything is that man is full of self (selfishness) and ambition. And for most, experience teaches wisdom, but foolishness favors youth. As a solution, I propose that we must learn to think humble in ideation, live humble experiences and seek human experiences that differ from our own. We are the same, but we do not live the same. Let us experience others’ pain and revel together in their joy.

The Bible verses that support this are abounding, but for the sake of time I’ll leave it as is.