For years, I've been somewhat disconnected with the world. I don't talk as much and when I am talked to, the response is usually a simple “yeah” or “nah”. Even when something happens that put me in a tight spot, I have a hard time giving a damn about it.

To give a more concrete example; about two weeks ago, a man detonated a bomb in Oslo and killed teenagers and children on a camp, in my very own country. My reaction to this is: I was not hurt directly or indirectly, I don't care.

So my questions are: Is this potentially dangerous to me or others? Is there a way to maybe become less apathetic? Am I just an inconsiderate [censored]? Could the display of such apathy be a sign of something deeper?

It could be a mild form of depression, or a sign of depression.

I'm no doctor, but I think the fact that you think there's something wrong with such behavior means you're not all that bad. It could just be a phase though. In fact, in some situations, it might be better to have such an attitude. If you're emotionally undeterred in an extreme situation, you'd be able to think and act with a clear conscience. But once again, that's just me, and I could be wrong.

If you feel like you need to see a doctor about these thoughts than my advice is this: Go see a doctor.

That is the best advice I can give and nobody on these forums can give better advice seein' as we are not licensed doctors and do not know you personally.

I sometimes feel like this. Some situations I don't give a hoot about. When Amy Winehouse died, I couldn't care less and I had no sympathy for her. Maybe that's because I never liked her, or maybe I am just a cold hearted [censored]. I am not sure this is the case though because I like love songs (chris de burgh for example so I have some emotion)

I know that when the legend that is David Attenborough passes on I will be very sad and sympathetic towards him however. I was when Steve Irwin died.

I don't know what you can really do about it though. I don't think it's depression because I have these feelings sometimes and I am quite happy in my life and would not call myself depressed.

I recognize these traits of you in myself and some other people I'm close with. I understand why you can feel this way. I'm fairly cynical and apathetic myself, but I'm happy with it and I have my reasons not to care. I wouldn't say it's dangerous, but I can't know it's exactly the way I'm imagining you feel. I also don't know what kind of person you used to be. Though I would say showing too much emotion isn't typical for Northern Europeans. And Western society in general has a certain blandness.

You just need something in life that drives you. If I were to guess, you're probably stagnating in maybe not such a great job, and the days probably pass rather monotonously. You need a goal, something to work towards.

Of course, that could be totally wrong. Maybe you're just an apathetic guy. But the fact that you didn't used to be kind of leads me to believe that.

Yeah, but the apathy is constant and have been so for years.

That seems reasonable, to see a doctor, but I'd much rather ask (like I have now) about this from a relatively anonymous standpoint or try to figure it out myself.

Well, a five year phase sound a little long, but maybe you're right.

That would be my guess too, especially when considering how my life is at the moment (details I won't reveal).

Who cares?

Stupid problem....

But off the apathetic train, In think we are apathetic who watch the news. Even when a certain event happened here many died and a wwhole nation as in mourning I just thought of all the other people who were suffering around the world and thought: Well their dying too...

But I'm not happy being cynical or apathetic, nor do I try very hard to resolve it, I'm pretty much indifferent to myself.
One thing that have changed from when I was a child for example, is that I used to talk a lot and laugh a lot, that have ceased.

Job? I don't have one. But I want one, but probably won't get one since I haven't even completed my education because I don't know what I want to do. But a goal would be nice, I think.

Tragedies happen so often that I think most of us have become pretty numb to them. It's no wonder with the world population being as large as it is. What's a few thousand compared to the billions that need to get on with their lives? It's tragic but how can we be expected to feel anything for people we never knew? In the end it's just a number to us. Let their loved ones grieve for them. Save your tears for tragedies that affect those close to you.

Nothing wrong with it, it's pretty much just a defense mechanism for your sanity really.

If you got upset about every bad event that is not directly related to you then you would be in a constant state of depression because there are always bad events, and if you shed a tear for every dying person you'd find yourself out of body fluids within the first few seconds.

Now if you didn't care about those very close to you it would be a problem, but not having a bit of apathy about events so disconnected from you would be a problem all in on itself. So don't worry about it.

I like people like you. They're familiar.

You have the time and will to shape and mold your own mind as you see fit. If there are things you do not like, then remove them. If there are things you want, then build them. Never believe that your mind is set in it's way and can never change, nor that you have no power over your own sentience.