October 31, 2025
Empathy or ELIZA cosplay?
Active listening: the Swiss Army Knife of communication
Empathy or robot vibes? Internet splits over the 'It sounds like…' trick
TLDR: Coach Jonathan Kahn touts “active listening” as a universal empathy tool. Commenters are split: some say it works when natural, others rip the “It sounds like…” script as robotic and ELIZA-like, warning it feels manipulative—making authenticity matter more than formulas in everyday and high‑stakes conversations.
Active listening just got the reality TV treatment. Coach Jonathan Kahn calls it the “Swiss Army Knife” of communication—ask open questions, mirror back with “It sounds like… because…,” build empathy, profit. But the comments lit up like a group chat. Some readers were charmed; others screamed, "script!"
The funniest jab: comparisons to ELIZA, a 1960s chatbot that parroted feelings. One commenter quipped it “sounds a lot like ELIZA,” and the meme spiraled into “therapy bot cosplay.” Then came the backlash. Several users said the example reply felt robotic, like talking to AI, and warned it rings fake when repeated—cue dunking on the classic closer, “Did I get that right?”
Practical voices joined in: avoid stock phrases, vary your words, and don’t deploy it like a corporate trick. Skeptics accused managers of weaponizing empathy, claiming it’s manipulative when used to steer outcomes. Supporters countered that the technique dates back to psychologists Carl Rogers and Richard Farson and, done naturally, can actually calm conflicts—from boardrooms to toddlers.
So yes, the article offers a friendly formula and practice tips. But online, the real test is authenticity: if it sounds like a script, people will hear the gears, not your heart. The drama? Empathy vs. cosplay.
Key Points
- •Active listening focuses on understanding another person’s perspective by setting aside one’s own thoughts, reflecting back, and checking for accuracy.
- •The technique follows an iterative cycle: listen, reflect in your own words, and confirm understanding.
- •Its goal is to build empathy and trust, going beyond gathering factual information.
- •The term “active listening” was coined in 1957 by psychologists Carl Rogers and Richard Farson, originating in psychotherapy.
- •The article provides a practical formula, examples, practice instructions, and tips for avoiding pitfalls.