Flora is eighteen months old and has a formidable sign-language vocabulary. For example, she knows how to say hurt. She can use it as a statement - "that hurts" - and as a question - "did that hurt?".

She likes to do things to people and then ask them if it hurt. Which is either really cool or really sick. I was floored when she clawed my left eye and then asked me if it hurt.

So is it the case that Flora doesn't know what hurts yet and is trying to put together a definitive list of things that hurt other people? Or is she trying to hurt people and wants to know if she got it right.

Are we building empathy or sadism?

Adults are clearly tougher and more competent than infants, so maybe infants think that adults are invulnerable until proven otherwise. I wonder if Flora beats up on other little kids and asks them if it hurts? I know I'm stepping into a pit of dumb here and anyone with any background in child development is now pointing at me and laughing.

Charlie bit me does nothing to clarify the situation.