My professor (Leoncinni, Critical Thinking) told me and my blockmates once, "Don't sympathize other people." I didn't understand him at first. When he explained why, I realized that what he was trying to say. Saying "I sympathize you" is like saying "I don't want to be like you". The more appopriate word to use is empathy. When you look for the word "empathy" in a thesaurus, the synonym would be "understanding" - not sympathy (well, in the Microsoft Thesaurus, that is). But really, when you express empathy to other people it's like saying "I understand". Sympathizing is not only inappopriate for human beings, it's also degrading. Just imagine these, you just got defeated by a rival school in an inter-school championship or something, then, one of the players from the other team, who looks at you like you're some kind of desease, walks up to your team and says, "I sympathize you." It hits you where it hurts the most, right? Your pride. Your pride of simply being human. If your opponent said, "I understand/empathize you guys" then maybe you wouldn't even react. Take note, before I go any further, understanding is not sympathizing.
Ok, let's just say that your too close minded to accept this "sympathize-empathize thingie" because to you sympathy is empathy, empathy is understanding and understanding is sympathy... let's just say that you are, ok? Then probably, when you say "I understand" or "I empathize you" it's like saying "I sympathize you" or "I don't want to be like you" indirectly. Although it's explicitly stated, it's still their. But, atleast, you don't degrade the person.
So, maybe the person you're referring to doesn't give a damn whether sympathy is empathy or empathy is sympathy and all that shit, you could atleast do it the right way. Look at it this way, whether the person knows about the E-S or S-E thing or not, atleast you're saying the right things.
What's the deal with all this Emapthy-Sympathy crap I've blabbing about? I'm human, you're human and everyone else is human. We are all of the same level, rich or poor, Asian or European - we are all human. You don't sympathize beings that are in the same level as you are. You sympathize animals. Animals who have no idea whatsoever. You get me?
If you still don't get it then it only means two things - either I'm a bad lecturer or your slow. Hehe, just kiddin'!