I'm sure those individuals will be fine without your pity. The point remains. You'll have a harder time understanding their motives if you start with demonization. "Well, he's a member of the naughty class so his behavior is by definition incomprehensible. No further examination is required." vs. genuine curiosity about what drives an individual's behavior.

That isn't to say that I enjoy everything they've done. One of the big asks and core areas of empathy is to be understanding of other's faults. Sometimes recognizing our own is a good first step.