I guess I am empathetic based on context.

Sometimes people are their own worst enemy, and I find it difficult to lend an ear instead of a more-justified critical assessment. This tendency has been mellowing with age - people are going to do what they want regardless. To paraphrase one of the greats:

"Even if you burst with indignation, still they will carry on."

I'm not all rough edges, however - my last girlfriend coined me, "tenderheart bear".