---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who knew there were still people like…"
description: "\"“Who knew there were still people like that in this world, though? Everybody wants to talk about themselves, and everybody wants to hear everybody else..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/ryu-murakami-8219_confessions_who-knew-there-were-still-people-like-th_703048.png"
---

#  Who knew there were still people like that in this world…

![“Who knew there were still people like that in this world, though? Everybody wants to talk about themselves, and everybody wants to hear everybody else's story, so we take turns playing reporter and celebrity. 'It must have made you very sad when your own father raped you - can you describe some of…” quote by Ryu Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/ryu-murakami-8219_confessions_who-knew-there-were-still-people-like-th_703048.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/ryu-murakami-8219_confessions_who-knew-there-were-still-people-like-th_703048.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/ryu-murakami-8219_confessions_who-knew-there-were-still-people-like-th_703048.png)

> ““Who knew there were still people like that in this world, though? Everybody wants to talk about themselves, and everybody wants to hear everybody else's story, so we take turns playing reporter and celebrity. 'It must have made you very sad when your own father raped you - can you describe some of your feelings at the time? Yes, I wept and wept, wonder why something like this had to happen to me'. It's like that. Everyone's running around comparing wounds, like bodybuilders showing off their muscles. And what's really unbelievable is that they really believe they can heal the wounds like that, just by putting them on display.””

[Ryu Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryu-murakami/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage critiques superficial empathy, exposing how people commodify trauma for attention, and the false belief that public display heals wounds.

**In simple terms:** People flaunt pain as spectacle, mistaking display for healing.

Key Takeaway

Beware of turning suffering into performance.

Themes

empathy authenticity trauma media self‑presentation

Mood

critical somber

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy groups
- online storytelling
- celebrity culture

Key Concepts

psychology social critique cultural commentary

Questions to Reflect On

- Can sharing pain truly help?
- What are the risks of performing trauma?

A Different Perspective

Healing requires private processing, not public exhibition.

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[Confessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confessions/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounds/)

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## More by Ryu Murakami

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