Empaths actually are bad at being around people. The stronger then empath, the more heavily they feel someone else's emotions. The television show Charmed covered it expertly. An Empath was a shut in, so badly that the building he was living in was going to be demolished around him. The reason for him being a shut in was because the distance from other people (he lived on the top floor of a run down apartment complex due for demolition) helped him tune our their thoughts and feelings a little, as long as he remained behind closed doors and windows. The end of the episode saw him take his gift back and become a shut in again, if I'm remembering right, after he inadvertently gave his gift to one of the sisters. Not a big deal in most "supernatural/witch" shows, but the Charmed Ones, the stars of the show, relied on their emotions to control their powers. Imagine how unstable their powers would become if they were feeling EVERYONE ELSE'S thoughts and feelings, not just their own. So I feel like Midnight having a gift for Empathy would be... rather fitting, considering she's bad at comforting people/ponies, and generally being around them.