A Hacker News discussion arose from a paper on object personification in autistic individuals. A commenter, self-identified as autistic, described experiencing emotional responses to damaged or neglected objects, feeling a "sadness" for their diminished state or lack of care. This resonated with others who shared similar feelings, citing the Japanese concept of Tsukumogami (objects imbued with souls) and a sense of duty toward helpful objects. Some felt that their empathy extended beyond humans and animals to inanimate objects, while others perceived objects as having unique "personalities". There was debate on whether this phenomenon was unique to autistic individuals or common in the general population, with some arguing that "normal" people also anthropomorphize objects. However, others pointed out that autistic individuals may experience empathy differently, with strong responses in some areas and flat responses in others. Concerns were raised about the methodology of the original study, a survey conducted via Survey Monkey, with a suggestion to conduct proper research.