Indifference by temp8190 temp8190

Definition

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 17:55:12 UTC

Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes indifference as the absence of compulsion to or toward one thing or another. It is more specifically defined as a lack of interest, sympathy or concern towards something, which leads to no action being made, even when there should be one made.

Charlotte Fosgate and Transphobic Indifference

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 18:19:07 UTC

On May 2nd, a 17-year-old transgender girl named Charlotte Fosgate went missing, posting two final tweets on her account. These tweets included a photo of the view by a bridge, along with the phrases, "It's a pretty view," and, "Long way down". She was later found dead, with police believing it to be from suicide. Instead of giving this situation the respect it deserved, the internet, especially social media, went out of their way to make fun of the situation. Instead of respecting her death, many were indifferent simply because of the fact she was transgender, and used the dark situation to fuel their transphobia agenda in the form of jokes.

Analysis

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 18:21:00 UTC

This is indifference because it shows a lack of care or concern for why Charlotte would have committed in the first place. Their jokes use this very heavy topic incredibly lightly, showing that they lack sympathy towards it, which fits the definition of indifference. This type of indifference needs to have actions taken against it, as it tells people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community who may be struggling mentally, especially younger people, that their situations are jokes, that if they ever have anything regarding their situation made public they'll be made fun of. This is a terrible thing to be telling anyone, and leads to further isolation that only worsens mental health, and would lead to far worse situations for them.

Gun Violence and Disregard for People

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 19:45:04 UTC

On July 4th, 2025 at 8am, a mass shooting occurred in Chicago, with four being killed and another 14 being injured. This is just one of many mass shooting cases, however this one is one of the most recent. The article that discusses this specific case discusses how murders and shooting incidents had gone down in Chicago in the following days after describing the devastation being experienced by those involved in the shooting.

Analysis

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 19:48:17 UTC

This is a more general example of indifference, but it is just as real - So many shooting incidents occur around the world, which as made the weight of these events less for people. This has made indifference widespread, as instead of consoling those who lost people to shootings or remembering those who were shot, attention is oftentimes brought to debates on gun violence. People have a lack of care towards victims because of the frequency of these events, and that lack of care resulting in less action being brought to help those directly involved is a key example of indifference.

Environmental Negligence

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 19:53:58 UTC

As of late May of this year, the Trump Administration terminated the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, which was key in observing the development of hurricanes during hurricane season. The information taken from this program made up over half of what forecasters used to make predictions, and although no direct reason for why this is being done was stated by the administration, experts believe it to be to hide the impacts of climate change and global warming.

Analysis

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 19:55:17 UTC

This event is an example of environmental indifference, where people would rather sweep news of worsening climate under the rug. The climate worsening will lead to worldwide struggles, with sea levels taking down cities and heat making places near unlivable, but many don't want to focus on that. They feel an absence of compulsion to change their ways, so instead of taking legitimate action, the administration would rather remain indifferent and sweep information under the rug so those who aren't indifferent stop complaining.

War and Indifference to Protests

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 20:15:05 UTC

Many protests have gone on across the world about the conflict going on within Gaza. The protest shown above had occurred in June of 2025, with several thousand people arriving to protest for Canada's government to take action. The article that covered this specific protest discussed how starvation was being used by Israel as a war weapon, starving the people in Gaza to try and enact a proper takeover. The article additionally discusses how governments are very timid to intervene.

Analysis

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 20:18:31 UTC

This situation showcases the indifference of governments. These major conflicts have been going on for quite a long time now, but countries haven't intervened despite the many crimes against humanity being committed in these conflicts, refusing to even just send out resources to those in need. There's a lack of compulsion for these governments to act and help the thousands of people suffering, and is a very major example of indifference because of that.

Industrial Farms and Indifference to Animal Cruelty

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 20:25:06 UTC

Hundreds of thousands of animals are put in terrible conditions in meat farms in order to make enough food to feed people. This involves putting many animals in deeply claustrophobic spaces and feeding healthy animals drugs so that they can survive the terrible conditions of their pens. Many have spoken up on these issues, but industrial farms exist all the same.

Analysis

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 20:40:04 UTC

Despite efforts made by a large amount of people, the lack of regulations being put in place for this type of industrial farming shows indifference towards animal cruelty. The things that occur in industrial meat farms is knowledge accessible to everyone, and basically everyone can agree that it is a bad thing that animals are being exploited in this manner, but since this method produces so much food, many are willing to turn a blind eye to it, showing a lack of sympathy to the animals and a lack of compulsion to make any major change, making this an example of indifference.

Sexual Assault and the Bystander Effect

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 20:52:06 UTC

In October of 2009, a 15 year old girl was sexually assaulted by multiple men outside of Richmond High School. It was said that ten people were involved in the assault over its 2 and a half hour period, and that there was another ten people who watched the event, but did not directly intervene. These other ten bystanders did not call 911 during the event, however. When a trial was held, everyone directly involved in the assault were given around thirty years of prison each. The lack of reports from the other bystanders was an event that led to the investigation of the Bystander Effect, which states that individuals are less likely to help when others are around. The Bystander Effect is still debated, but that does not make this event any less devastating.

Analysis

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 20:57:19 UTC

This event is a major example of the psychological phenomenon where a person is more indifferent to a situation if there are others around. No explicit reason for the indifference shown in this event is known, but it is believed under the bystander effect that the ten men who observed the event but didn't report it did so because others weren't intervening, which further influenced them not to. That, or nobody intervened as the more people who can intervene are present, the less personal responsibility one would feel to act, as other people could instead. Either way, the feelings and terror of the poor girl who was victim to this assault were not considered, and that lack of sympathy along with the lack of compulsion to help her are key aspects of indifference, making this an example.

Works Cited

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 21:01:38 UTC

CNN. “Police: As many as 20 present at gang rape outside school dance.” 28 October 2009, https://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/27/california.gang.rape.investigation/index.html.

Harari, Yuval Noah. “Industrial farming is one of the worst crimes in history.” The Guardian, 25 September 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/sep/25/industrial-farming-one-worst-crimes-history-ethical-question.

Jones, CT. “Charlotte Fosgate: Trans Community Battles Bigotry After Teen Suicide.” Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/charlotte-fosgate-transphobia-memorial-queer-communities-1235351553/.

Liddy, Tom, and Emily Shapiro. “4 killed, 14 hurt in Chicago mass shooting: 'Absolute chaos.'” ABC News, 3 July 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/US/4-dead-14-wounded-chicago-mass-shooting-police/story?id=123441062.

Nerestant, Antoni. “Protesters in Montreal show support for Gaza, denounce 'red lines crossed' by Israel.” CBC, 15 June 2025, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/gaza-protest-downtown-montreal-1.7561909.

Skibell, Arianna. “Trump kills key hurricane forecasting tool - POLITICO.” Politico, 27 June 2025, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2025/06/27/trump-kills-key-hurricane-forecasting-tool-00429465.

Solving Indifference

temp8190 — 2025-07-04 21:05:05 UTC

Indifference comes from a variety of different things, whether that be personal beliefs, the avoidance of the mental toll that comes with caring, certain psychological phenomenon or a fear of speaking out, among other things. You can only start acting on it once you find the source, as every reason for indifference needs a different way to fight it.

A general way to decrease indifference, though, is to empower people to speak up. It's important to tell people that their thoughts matter, and that anyone can make a change. If people don't believe they can make change, than they never will, regardless of any other reasons why. Listening when others talk, avoiding judgmental talk and actually considering what others are saying in any given discussion are ways to make people feel like their thoughts matter and that they have genuine say. That kind of encouragement goes a long way when it comes to getting people to speak up on situations. Lead by example, take action whenever you can, and others are destined to learn. By doing this, we can lessen indifference and make the world an overall better place.