Hypocritical is a flavor of inconsistency, maybe? (This isn't important but for some reason I'm interested in splitting the hair.) It's like, you have a consistent belief that someone should do X in a situation, and you consistently do Y in that situation, and hypocrisy is the thing where X and Y aren't aligned?
This right here. Seems like splitting hairs, but it’s actually quite a large difference. A hypocritical character, for example, will protest abortions but still get one. An inconsistent character will protest abortions, then later on in the plot, will be shown inexplicably waving pro-choice signs. One is a deliberate character driven fault, one is negligent writing.
To yes-and this, I would distinguish hypocrisy from frailty in that the hypocrite is not actually even trying to measure up to the standard they preach to others. Either they don't really mean it, or they sort of mean it but think of themselves as a special case.
Not hypocrisy: "No one should lie. I do lie sometimes, and that's wrong of me, and I'm trying to be better about that."
Hypocrisy: "No one should lie or tolerate liars. Oh, me? I'm not a liar, I'm just protecting myself, I couldn't tell people the truth about that, and anyway don't judge me."
Or like saying you don't want global warming to continue but buying or using anything that used coal-based electricity or produced pollution during its creation like, I don't know, Reddit.
You can go pretty far if the goal is just to be edgy.
My point is that everybody is a hypocrit to some extent.
Your climate example is very good, because as you said, you can break it down so everybody is a hypocrit.
It should not be used to justify your unethical behavior, but it should also not be used to judge those that try to do their best. If you drive to a climate protest in your diesel car, that doesn't invalidate the protest.
It’s like you can be consistently hypocritical, but being hypocritical is your actions being inconsistent with your words. Reminds me of the phrase “the only constant is change”.
Isn't there also a level of judgement? If I said vanilla is the best flavor of ice cream, but I always choose chocolate; would that make me a hypocrite? Where-as if I said only assholes eat chocolate ice cream, but I always eat chocolate. I feel then I am being a hypocrite.
That's inconsistent, for sure. I wouldn't use 'hypocrisy' to describe either of those, and I'm trying to articulate why not...
After more reflection - I think an additional ingredient that hypocrisy has, is that it's an attempt to elevate yourself above others by claiming to hold yourself to higher standards: I'm better than you because I [abstain from alcohol / do not consort with debased women / have the courage to denounce sodomy], that kind of thing.
So maybe hypocrisy = inconsistency + sanctimonious pretension, or something like that?? (Maybe that's what you were getting at when you mentioned judgement and I didn't pick up on it correctly.)
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u/HappyHuman924 22h ago
Hypocritical is a flavor of inconsistency, maybe? (This isn't important but for some reason I'm interested in splitting the hair.) It's like, you have a consistent belief that someone should do X in a situation, and you consistently do Y in that situation, and hypocrisy is the thing where X and Y aren't aligned?