10/7/22- From what we were assigned to read up to, I did not want to stop. I can also see how Leslie Jamison’s “Devil’s Bait” is on the science side where it is talking about a terrible disease, Morgellons. Jamison creates connections throughout the reading, but even if she can relate, she brings up how its not from the same cause. With what we have talked about on empathy, she tends to bring up how having groups for those dealing with this illness is comforting to everyone. Jamison brings up the fact that all these people find comfort knowing that they are not alone which shows me that people preferring those who can relate to talk to is very accurate. Jamison tries to be comforting, an example being when she was thinking of something good to tell Kendra so that she could believe it gets better- the problem is, Jamison could not find something to say. Jamison can agree to the emotion, she even mentions it herself in the reading, but thats all she wants to agree to. She does not want to make promises or completely agree with what someone is going through. I think what got me the most is when Jamison says “I tell myself I can agree with a declaration of pain without being certain I agree with the declaration of its cause.” I feel like that quote is so important especially with the topic of empathy. There is a difference between feeling the same pain and feeling the same pain with the same cause.
Jamison has a difficult time with empathy and although she attempts to practice it, she does not succeed. She questions empathy, and really only uses sympathy because she feels as if its an obligation which is why she nods and agrees and does not tell those with the disease “I hear you.” I find it interesting after finishing the reading that the title is “Devil’s Bait” because of how it was first brought up in her writing with Paul’s story and what has happened to him. Jamison wants to be empathetic is what I have gathered, but she has such a hard time believing everybody and she is stuck. Towards the end, she questions how empathy works and talks about how she wishes to be compassionate, and to believe everyone “but compassion isn’t the same as belief.” I also want to comment on Jamison’s statement that “wanting to be different doesn’t make you so.” We listen to how she tries to be understanding, how she tries to connect with all of these individuals going through Morgellons, and as much as she wishes to be very caring with these people, she can only find it in herself to agree with no words. Jamison also wants to do nice things for these people, but towards the end (paragraph 135) she states that she feels guilty and does nice things in exchange for not being able to comprehend or understand what those with the disease are going through; how they are suffering from it. Jamison is at a loss because she can clearly see these people suffering and how lonely some of them are, yet she cannot fully believe them or understand them, causing her to be challenged on how to respond. I think thats why sympathy is brought up more often and used rather than empathy. It is like its her “go-to” where she can comfort individuals with a nod while still feeling lost. From the reading, I also feel that Jamison fails at practicing empathy not only because she can’t create a connection, but she does not want to. She does not want to have the same symptoms or admit to having a similar experience to any of the patients and when doing a little perspective-taking, it only makes her want to protect herself from what other people have. To simply put it, Jamison is struggling with practicing empathy even if she has made good points and has given good advice. She does not even take her own advice and makes things harder for herself! I think she wants us to know about empathy because of how different it can be for everybody and to show that it is not a simple concept for everybody.
