this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2025
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I’m asking as I’m trying to understand empathy and whether it’s normal to get so invested in fake characters, I mean it’s probably a testament to the writers but I overthink… a lot.

This question was bright on as I’ve been catching up on The Blacklist and at lunch today watching Season 8 Episode name “Anne “ and it wrecked me.

Tap for spoilerBasically the main character Red has to live a guarded life and for once he let it form and got close to Anne and you could tell shit was going to go downhill and it destroyed me when you think about it from his or her perspective.

For reference I’m 41 year old dude, not that it matters.

Edit: Bedtime for me but back tomorrow to reply to all.

Edit 2: I’ve got 41 comments to respond to. Currently working but I’ll be back y’all.

(page 3) 13 comments
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Yup, i do this too - my personal highlight was crying at ... Wall-e, when he thinks that Eve died.

I'm over 40, and this started 10 or 15 years ago, when i started to go to therapy a lot more.

But i think it's great to be able to live and feel with imaginary characters, and a sign of empathy.

[–] octobob@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago

Very rarely, but I have a few times.

C'mon C'mon starring Joaquin Phoenix and a 12 year old kid made my ball my eyes out.

[–] selkiesidhe@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

All the time. I mean, I got misty over Smoke's death scene in Sinners lol

Wanna have sad happy tears? Videos of nervy squervy cats. Poor sweet things trying to live their best lives but have trouble moving! Omg 😭❤️😭

[–] arararagi@ani.social 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

This is something that gets easier after your first cry, I watched dramas before and all, but only after playing Narcissus I cried for fictional characters; after that it happens more easily.

Hell, now I get teary eyes just by watching the new Anne Shirley anime opening seeing her grow up, I don't even have a kid.

[–] Ashen44@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago

Used to be I never cried at anything. Ever. Then I started watching the saddest shows I could find specifically for the purpose of making me cry because I figured that wasn't healthy. Now I'm a total crybaby and I gotta admit, I'm happier for it.

I used to be a massive weeb so most of my sad moments are from anime, but if you really want to bawl your eyes out, Violet Evergarden and A Silent Voice are my two go to picks for when I want to absolutely destroy myself.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Anyone here watch K Dramas? Crash Landing on You emotionally broke me. I knew they couldn't keep portraying North Korea as good, but they didn't have to do all that....

I cried reading about Opportunity. Not losing one or the lack thereof.

The Mars Rover.

Also the Wikipedia article on the Miracle on the Hudson. No I haven't seen the Tom Hanks movie nor do I plan to unless I really need an ugly cry.

[–] Karl@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago

Cried? Never. But I've sometimes felt bad for them.

I can only cry for myself.

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