Pity
I have noticed quite a bit, in literature and real life, that pity is often thought of as a negative emotion to receive. Think about it--how frequently do you hear the phrase "I don't want your pity", or people talking about how they couldn't handle it if anyone pitied them?
Why?
Pity, in real life, is an impossible emotion to control. In fact, by its very definition, an emotion, it's unreasonable to expect someone to hold back pity. Sure, you don't have to express it at every opportunity, but is being pitied really a bad thing? Think past the connotations.
I've noticed many people liken being pitied to being looked down on, and that's not true. Pity is an emotion that should instead be likened empathy. For me, pity is feeling genuinely bad for someone, and simultaneously not knowing entirely the emotions they are dealing with. It has nothing to do with feeling higher then them.
I spoke with someone once who said they didn't like pity because someone once told them; "I pity you for being gay." That, in itself, can be really obnoxious. But my opinion? Accept it if someone tells you that. Sometimes I pity myself for being gay. It means I have to deal with hardships that heterosexuals wouldn't, and while I wouldn't be straight if I had the option, sometimes that would be a hellavu lot easier.
Obviously the word 'Pitiful' has a negative connotation. Again, why. The word means that if someone saw you in that state, they would pity you. They'd feel bad--I could go really deep and say that the existence of the word Pitiful means that every human can feel and empathize, but that's complete bullshit. I'm not going to analyze it to death. Except I just did.
I...just don't like people saying they don't want pity. Tell me not to breathe, why don't you? This rant type thing has absolutely no point, but wahey! What else is livejournal for?
Also, I am still open for commissions. Srsly.