Talk:Empaths in Fiction

purpose of this page

I started this page by moving the accumulating examples of empaths in fiction from the empathy page. So I think the main emphasis should really be empathy as a 'supernatural' power, which can then reference natural empathy for support. It then becomes like a page on vampires or superheroes. We have lots of examples here, so what I think this page is lacking is really any insight into what (fictional) empaths are i.e. the kinds of mechanisms that are suggested for their skills, the role it plays in the narrative, history etc...

So for example, Peter Petrelli obeys an established precedent for copying other characters powers (e.g. that girl from the X-men). A conjectured mechanism is given (something to do with DNA right??) and he also says he thinks about 'how he feels when with x' in order to gain their power.

Compare all this to talking about warp drive, teleportation, or invisibility, that gradually gets more clarified in the fictional case. This sets up a standard narrative device that has certain predictable dramatic consequences. A second thing is that scientists take these ideas and try to realise them in reality. So analysis like this does serve an interesting function in the end! Thomascochrane (talk) 20:42, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

I suggest that this article be revised for increased neutrality and objectivity. Case in point:

"They are most often passionate towards nature and respect its bountiful beauty. One will often find empaths enjoying the outdoors, beaches, walking, etc. Empaths may find themselves continually drawn to nature as a form of release. It is the opportune place to recapture their senses and gain a sense of peace in the hectic lives they may live. The time to get away from it all and unwind with nature becomes essential to the empath. Animals are often dear to the heart of empaths, not as a power object, but as a natural love. It is not uncommon for empaths to have more than one pet in their homes."

1. A great many people are passionate, even spiritual, in their appreciation of nature, without being empaths.

2. I don't know a single individual who lacks a need to retreat from "the hectic lives [one] might live."

3. Millions of people have relationships with animals and pets whereby those pets are part of their families, a "natural love" rather than "power object"; non-empaths draw on exactly the same resources for rejuvenation mentioned in this paragraph.

I am not an expert on empaths, hence my looking it up, but I would like to see a more useful discussion here.

--Gaia1214 (talk) 02:36, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

Hi there! I am glad that you started this discussion page. I would like to get to know others who feel that they really do have an empath ability or power, take your pick. I have always been very sensitive and always had sort of a 6th sense about things. I see things in my dreams, sometimes when I touch a stranger, etc. Lately, though, I have been feeling all of the emotions around me. Pain, anger, glea, intense rage, hatred. It has been so intense that my Doctor had to add anti-anxiety meds to my regimen. Feel free to talk back. I want to learn to control this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jmmeastridge (talk • contribs) 18:35, 6 June 2009 (UTC)

Please note that Wikipedia is not a forum. Please also see WP:TALK. --Evb-wiki (talk) 00:40, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

Jmmeastridge, I have reverted your edit to the empath article (in which you described yourself as an empath etc) because I strongly feel it was in violation of the "no original research" policy of Wikipedia, which states that... well, you can read it, Wikipedia:No original research, but basically that things that haven't been published before aren't to be placed within wikipedia. If you are published, please see the wikipedia guidelines on citing oneself: WP:COS, which do mention that it is preferred you don't speak in first person. I would have left a note on your user page, but it doesn't seem to exist yet, and I thought I should leave that to you. If you are offended by my action, please accept my apology. I appreciate your eagerness to expand all of our knowledge, :). And evb-wiki makes a good point about talk page usage. --Alex60466176 (talk) 00:50, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

rename article

Perhaps this article (list) should be renamed Empaths in fiction. --Evb-wiki (talk) 00:42, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

Hmm... I wouldn't be opposed to that, thats pretty much what it is now. However, if we did so, we'd be relocating some of the precious little information WP has on empaths. Would someone be willing to undertake the major editing and expanding this article needs? But I think the idea is a good one, in general. What would it leave left of the article though? --Alex60466176 (talk) 00:54, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

I would actually like there to be an article in this namespace (instead of this one) if there are enough reliable sources on the phenomenon. Maybe something here. What we have now is an example farm filled with fictional versions of what some people believe are empaths. --Evb-wiki (talk) 01:05, 7 June 2009 (UTC)

You are absolutly on the right track. To begin with the entire article needs to be repurposed, this is an article about Empathy as a supernatural power, face it. There's also the complete and utter lack of sources in every regard. Then there's the spurious claims like "Storm is in tune with nature". This article needs to accept what it is and get some references in line with it's content. Padillah (talk) 12:27, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

"A realistic viewpoint"

I really like this initiative! But in terms of the headline "A realistic viewpoint" I am rather disappointed, that there are no references to mirror neurons. I know, it is not popular to state this, but since WP is supposed to be neutral, we should include that perspective, as it could very well explain most of the empaths reactions and perceptions. (Malenejessen (talk) 18:24, 15 June 2009 (UTC))

Since that "realistic viewpoint" section cites not one source, it should probably just be deleted. Crossbow1 (talk) 21:32, 16 June 2009 (UTC)

Crossbow, I tend to agree with you. But I still feel, that there could be a reference to mirror neurons, and perhaps even (and now I am going into a dangerous area) bipolar. As they too are realistic view points and could help to keep the empath article more on ground level. Alternatively this article should be clearly expressed as being how empaths perceive themselves, rather than an explanation on what an empath "really" is. Just as an article about christians are not to take for granted that God exists, but that they 'believe' in the existence of God. (Not stating whether or not I believe in God or the ability, it is all in the name of a reliable WP) (Malenejessen (talk) 08:06, 18 June 2009 (UTC))

Source or delete. Any content added here (i.e., re mirror neuron theory) will have to include reliable sources that actually connect the theory with the phenomenon. We cannot use synthesis to get there. If you have sources, let's see them. --Evb-wiki (talk) 12:09, 18 June 2009 (UTC)

There isn't any connected theory between the empath ability and mirror neurons, only between mirror neurons and 'normal' empathy. If that cannot be applied here, then I too vote for deleting this part of the article., and all in all describe the 'phenomenon' as a belief rather than a condition and fact.(Malenejessen (talk) 09:05, 20 June 2009 (UTC))

Judith Orloff's (biography) book Positive Energy (excerpt) says that an empath picks up on a person's energy fields. ~Itzjustdrama ^{? C} 16:47, 8 July 2009 (UTC)

The existence of mirror neurons in human beings has not yet been proven (there is evidence against); and their role in macaque monkeys is as yet unknown. There is also the dog-yawn study, although that might be more relevant for the empathy article. - Tenebris —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.112.29.65 (talk) 17:20, 18 July 2009 (UTC)

Refocusing the article

I believe the article should be rewritten so it focuses on the concept of the empath instead of characters who are empaths. I think we should find information on how the concept of the empath character has changed and has been developed throughout the years and through different media. ~Itzjustdrama ^{? C} 16:59, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

Other empaths in Television

This might be worth adding: In season 2 of the Sci Fi series Babylon 5, there is an episode called "Soul Mates". It features somebody with the abilities of an empath and the term empath is actually used in the show.

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—Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.200.18.37 (talk) 21:33, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Redirected

I saw nothing worth keeping here (indeed, even the title breaks Wiki format guidelines) so I redirected it. If the article was ever to be reconstituted, it would need decent sourcing and a tighter focus. --John (talk) 16:07, 4 September 2009 (UTC)

@John: This was almost certainly the right decision in 2009, but the sourcing situation has changed so I wrote an article and removed the redirect. Psiĥedelisto (talk • contribs) ^{please always ping!} 23:26, 14 January 2023 (UTC)

Whoops, that's about empath, not empaths in Fiction. The talk page was redirecting but I fixed that. Psiĥedelisto (talk • contribs) ^{please always ping!} 23:29, 14 January 2023 (UTC)