From Bella: Tim Minchin on policing other's opionions
- jeanne7629
- Jul 18, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 21, 2025
From Bella: Tim argues that naturally our concern priorities for other people radiate outwards - starting with our family, then to those in our local community, then those in our our state, our country etc. This leads to a discussion that we are naturally more concerned about the suffering of people like ourselves. I'm not sure if this is true for me. Are you more bothered by suffering of people in your local community than those in a far away conflict? If you are a white person, were you more affected by the news coverage of October 7 than that of the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip? Sometimes I am more bothered by the suffering of animals (who are nothing like me!) than of humans. Would love to hear other members' thoughts!
I loved what he said about extending our empathy to as many people as possible. Very TTA. It produces an interesting tension, though, with his philosophy of ‘curating our circle of concern’ and not reading distressing news. I wondered if this strategy was actually a way for Minchin to give himself space for his creativity. I feel like that in my own life. Great interviewer, Antoinette Lattouf - intelligent, funny, generous!