“I know exactly how you feel”.
With all due respect, no you don’t. Nobody knows exactly how anyone else feels. The only person that knows exactly how you feel is you. The only person that knows exactly how I feel is me.
Whilst many of us here have had similar experiences, there are differences within us and within those people and events that have driven us to our respective points. To say “I know exactly how you feel” might be well intentioned, but it is glib and patronising.
I know you’re trying to help. I always want to help. Whilst I may relate to someone else’s feelings and experiences, I will never know exactly how they feel.
7 comments
I don’t know exactly how you feel.
But that phrase annoys me, too.
Im with u both
Ever one will *****.
EVEN if your tryin to help.
And often even we don’t know how we feel
@the Guardian: Exactly. If we don’t know how we feel, then how the hell do we know exactly how anyone else feels?
I prefer the phrase, “I often think the exact same thing. With different words sometimes. But still.”