ive never watched the office but i saw loads of people online saying this one episode was super cringy and the second hand embarrassment stopped them from even watching it (it’s ‘scott’s tots’ for any fans who know!!). anyways, i just watched that episode and i didn’t really feel… anything. like i was a little sad for the kids who’s tuition couldn’t be paid for but i didn’t feel cringed out or anything. i’m scared this means i lack empathy because EVERYONE feels embarrassed for michael in that scene. but then i guess i have no connection to him as a character since i’ve never watched the show, so it doesn’t mean much to me because of that? i hope. i also find that i don’t feel much second hand embarrassment from tv shows or movies because they aren’t authentic to me. i get it way more from ‘real’ things like interviews or real life instances like performers or comedians etc. in fact i feel like i get it quite a lot in the real world. but just never in tv shows or films, which worries me. someone on reddit said they also didn’t feel embarrassed for michael and a person commented saying they are a psychopath :(

I sometimes feel like I lack ALOT of empathy personally.

wow people are so so quick to assume and put labels on people. no one is automatically a “psychopath” just because they said one thing. also, stop analyzing how much you “relate” to michael. that’s definitely compulsive behavior. like you said, some people have different reasons as to why they sympathize or empathize with people, but with ocd, analyzing it is pointless. also, i LOVE the scott tot’s episode, but holy shit it’s simotaneously so awful at the same time

I’m the type of person who cringes easily and I can’t watch that episode, but my fiancé has no issues with it and finds it hilarious. People are just different 🤷🏻‍♀️

thanks everyone. i hope that maybe this is more to do with me seeing it as a tv show? and not real life. because i have high empathy in real life setting it’s just this was not ‘real’ to me.

I find Scott’s Tots hilarious. I don’t think it’s an empathy thing, it’s more of whether or not you find cringe humor funny.

see that’s the thing, i think i do find cringe humor on tv funny. but then in real life i cringe and feel vicarious embarrassment a lot?? and i’m so confused as to why this is only in real life and not in tv shows.