Empathy? What’s That? A Reflection on Modern Behaviour By Mukund M A

In a world that often celebrates speed, convenience, and instant gratification, empathy seems to be quietly slipping through the cracks. In this reflective piece, Mukund M A draws attention to a seemingly ordinary incident that reveals a deeper concern about how society responds when things go wrong.

The narrative unfolds during a late-night movie screening at a popular multiplex. A sudden technical failure unforeseen and unresolved despite repeated attempts leads to the cancellation of the show. What follows is not just disappointment, but rising hostility. As tempers flare, the multiplex manager and his team find themselves facing an aggressive audience demanding answers, refunds, and accountability.

What stands out is not the technical glitch itself, but the absence of empathy. Few in the crowd pause to consider the pressure faced by the manager or the technical team grappling with a problem beyond immediate control. Listening gives way to accusation. Understanding is replaced by outrage.

Mukund uses this moment as a mirror to broader, everyday behavior. From road rage in traffic bottlenecks to intolerance in minor daily inconveniences, emotional reactions often overpower emotional intelligence. Situations that demand patience and perspective instead trigger anger and blame.

The irony, as Mukund observes, is striking. In corporate environments, empathy is frequently promoted as a leadership virtue embedded in training programs, coaching frameworks, and organizational values. Yet, when faced with real-life situations that require empathy in action, society often falls short.

This reflection raises an uncomfortable but important question: Are we truly becoming more empathetic, or merely talking about it?
As polarization, aggression, and intolerance grow louder in public spaces, Mukund’s observations invite readers to pause and introspect about how they respond to inconvenience, how they listen in moments of conflict, and how often they genuinely place themselves in another’s shoes.

The piece is not accusatory, but contemplative. It gently challenges readers to rethink everyday reactions and asks whether empathy still holds space in modern social behavior.

🔗 Connect with Mukund M A on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mukund-m-a-0344771/

Sometimes, empathy isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about choosing understanding over outrage in the smallest moments.