Quote:

the feeling of being embarrassed for someone else is not unfamiliar to me. But on closer inspection, I think we are mostly embarassed for ourselves by the actions of the other.



Right string, right yo-yo, wsieber.
By social extention we are embarrassed for ourselves.

For example, the same faux pas that enjoins our empathy when committed by a member of the in-group is often cause for a giggle or grin when commited by a member of the out-group.

Either way we here are guilty of a snide paternalism in that we are holding ourselves to be superior to those who simply don't know the social conventions of the nonce.

Now you all go forth from these pages and become better people. ()