What really startles me is when I see a person provoke an animal into a rage, and then go "Awwww how cute!" and then provoke the animal again.

Several months ago I had a new staff person who kept trying to do that to me. (I've seen people do it to autistic people in general.) He'd push my buttons until he got a response.

Then he'd declare he'd "connected" with me.

No, pissing me off is not the way to connect to me, and taunting animals is not how to connect to them. And people think I lack empathy.