compost_funeralThis might be a silly question, but did the term "empath" exist at all before Star Trek: TNG aired? I do not recall ever seeing it in pre-1980s text but obviously I am limited by my perspective here. If the term was invented to describe Troi then that feels extremely appropriate for how it's used now actually (given it was probably popularised from this point, it probably still is, even if the paranormal crowd were using it earlier)
bald@compost_funeral I know I'm a complete random but I 100% could believe calling yourself an empath originated in fandom spaces and then trickled into the new age pseudoscience world. Sorry you're having to deal with this hell person.