billionaires have no empathy so its not outrageous to expect this type of perspective for them.

red_coil489
English

    billionaires have no empathy

Source? Does someone’s net-worth going from $999M to $1B automatically make them a sociopath?

Ok that is a little unfair of me. I do get where you’re coming from, that billionaires tend to do want what’s best for them. And because of their wealth, things they do have a lot of impact on regular people. Impact which may very well be negative (as well as positive, nothing is black and white).

it does come off as sociopathic/selfish when their actions impact us negatively. But it does not come from a place of hatred for humanity, I don’t believe it. In my opinion, they’re regular people who have a huge egos, and are trying to shape the world in their own vision, which people might not really want. A sort of humanity’s savior complex.

I mean look at this comment section, people invoking threats of violence and calling for mass killings of the rich and their families. It’s individuals with their own perception of justice and fairness seeking to shape the world in their own vision, to make it “better” in their eyes. Only difference is that they lack influence power, but besides that, is it really any different from what people on top are doing currently?

P.s.: Just to make it clear, I am not defending the 1% class, no one person should ever hold that much power/wealth. But calling for violence and rejoicing in death? No, that is savage and animalistic, and I must believe we are better than that by now.
    Snowclone
    English

    own the most successful company in human history. insist your workers piss in bottles at their work stations.

    you capable of this? I’m not. I’d pay people. hire more people, and also pay them. I’d pay people and give them benefits to the point, I wouldn’t be able to put billions in a bank account. I’d just be so wealthy no one in my bloodline would ever have to work again, but not the richest man on earth.

    you see what I’m getting at here?
    swankypantsu
    English

        it does come off as sociopathic/selfish when their actions impact us negatively. But it does not come from a place of hatred for humanity, I don’t believe it. In my opinion, they’re regular people who have a huge egos, and are trying to shape the world in their own vision, which people might not really want. A sort of humanity’s savior complex.

    I think you’re missing my point. I’m not calling for violence or rejoicing in death. This was tragic, especially for the kids.

    I lack empathy for the parents specifically. They chose to vacation in the Bahamas on a private jet while billions struggle to afford basic necessities. That choice is what they are and it signals they prioritize their comfort over collective well-being, including economic fairness and environmental sustainability.

    Let them have their ego inflation but let it come with consequences. If we condemn wealth concentration but ignore its human cost (emissions, inequality), then yes, we’re being hypocritical about who deserves empathy.

    The disconnect isn’t personal hatred and instead it’s recognizing that their lifestyle choices directly harm people like us. A commercial flight crash is a different story entirely. When the wealthy opt out of shared realities and consume resources at our expense, expecting full sympathy seems to contradict holding them accountable for how they’ve built their power.
        red_coil489
        English

            they prioritize their comfort over collective well-being, including economic fairness and environmental sustainability.

        By that logic, majority should give up their comfort and wealth for the sake of collective, because there will always be someone doing worse than others. Except you’d be hard-pressed to convince any regular persons to do so. So why should the family in the airplane? Plus take a look at this:

            According to his LinkedIn profile, he founded Retention.com in January 2020 and said he grew the company to $20 million in annual recurring revenue within 3 1/2 years, without outside funding. (Source)

        They only just now made came into moderate, self-made wealth. Should they immediately give it up? And I question the magnitude of the negative impact their little vacation has had on us to be honest. Just some food for thought, not every issue has to devolve into a “us vs them”. I implore anyone reading to always be critical of any calls for such way of thinking.

You're right to reject moral panic, but you're softening the real question: what happens when we normalize opting out of consequences?

Regarding double standards: everyone needs dignity. But choosing a private jet isn't just about comfort. It's an active choice to avoid the systems that bind the rest of us. It's not about judging their worth; it's about recognizing they're living in a layer where choices carry no public cost.

One vacation isn't the apocalypse. But patterns compound. This lifestyle sends a message that accountability isn't necessary if you can afford to skip it. When enough people do, the systems holding us together start to fray and that doesn't benefit anyone.

The crash is tragic. But ask yourself why "empathy" feels automatic for some and complicated for others. It's not about hatred; it's about recognizing that their choices land on our shoulders. Its our air, our tax base, our shared infrastructure. Empathy becomes complicated when someone's "freedom" requires your sacrifice.