Are we being too rough on hypocrisy?

[sageoftruth]

According to psycological study (and many incidents in real life) people have a tendency to notice the flaws of others before they notice their own. We can see that pretty clearly in today's politics, but we also see it among the general public. People mock other drivers while driving like crap and making excuses for themselves for example. We all despise hypocrisy, since it is unfair to expect something from others without demonstrating the same behavior yourself. However, you will eventually catch yourself being a hypocrite, and because it is so heavily bemoaned, it hurts a lot. While it is definitely something to avoid doing, are we going too far in treating it like a mortal sin worse than honest cruelty?

 

[furry-ryuu-ken]

I am a huge hypocrite. I have always admitted it and have no plan to change.[sub] Well[sub]a little[/sub][/sub]

 

[Dark Knifer]

I don't like it when I do it myself, but I don't think it's the worst thing a person can do. It's not good, but not punishable by death kind of bad. Unless it's something big like a pollitician saying their not racist and then banning a particular group of people from their country. Things like that should be considered evil.

 

[Xan Krieger]

I admit I'm a hypocrite, guess I get it from my mother. She'll talk about how bad other people are driving even as she talks on her cell phone while driving.

 

[ExaltedK9]

Everyones a hypocrite, and if you deny it, you're a liar as well. Its looked dwn upon, but not so unforgivable.

 

[Frotality]

hipocrisy is pretty much human nature, your right. all we need to do is admit it, and simply consider that whenever were about to accuse someone else of being a hypocrite. a simple yet effective means to lessen the problem; we of course cant change human nature, but simply being aware of a certain flaw of our nature does wonders for overcoming it.

 

[enriel]

We may all be guilty of some level of hypocrisy, but a lot of the big ones that get pointed out in the media are pretty ludicrous.
A smoker telling someone not to smoke? Maybe a little hypocritical, but usually with good intention.

The head of a major organization being caught doing something that said organization is against? Well...perhaps you shouldn't be in charge any more.

 

[Justank]

The irony behind it is that often times, the flaws we find most glaring and irritating in others are ones that are also present in ourselves. Just takes a lot to admit it for most people. Yes, it is human nature to be hypocritical to some extent, and it is something that everyone should try to overcome on a personal level. Treating every case of hypocrisy like a mortal sin is a bit silly, though. It's really more of a case by case thing, like the example of a major politician touting anti-racism and then doing racist things given above. That would be an act bad enough to receive mortal sin treatment.

 

[The Rockerfly]

The real thing is, who gives a shit apart from yourself? People can moan and ***** at you but I wouldn't give a shit and neither should you

You can be a hypocrite all you like, you don't have to practise what you preach. If I smoked I would encourage other people are not to smoke

 

[feather240]

No, we're not.

 

[sageoftruth]

The irony behind it is that often times, the flaws we find most glaring and irritating in others are ones that are also present in ourselves. Just takes a lot to admit it for most people. Yes, it is human nature to be hypocritical to some extent, and it is something that everyone should try to overcome on a personal level. Treating every case of hypocrisy like a mortal sin is a bit silly, though. It's really more of a case by case thing, like the example of a major politician touting anti-racism and then doing racist things given above. That would be an act bad enough to receive mortal sin treatment.

True, that would be bad, but is it really the hypocrisy or the act that caused him to be a hypocrite that is so horrendous? I think the important question is, is being a racist hypocritically worse than being a racist intentionally? I personally would say that it depends on whether he's deluding the public or deluding himself. After all, if he's deluding himself, then he actually believes he's innocent. Still, I'm open to any further commentary.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Yes, everyone is to some degree a hypocrite. It's not a mortal sin, but it should be look down upon. It's one of human nature's ugliest qualities.

 

[Dorian6]

I'm in no way perfect, but that won't stop me from making fun of right-wing, anti-gay politicians who get caught soliciting gay sex in a public bathroom

 

[sageoftruth]

Yes, everyone is to some degree a hypocrite. It's not a mortal sin, but it should be look down upon. It's one of human nature's ugliest qualities.

Still, considering most of us become hypocrites eventually, isn't it kind of hypocritical to look down on hypocrisy? If you meant that it should be discouraged, than I can get behind that. It's just that looking down on someone implies that you think you're better than them.

 

[Blemontea]

We all are hypocrites at one point or another, if you notice it, Good, you apoligize about it, Better, if you dont, your a creature of earth and i cant hate on you for doing it becuaase that would be hypocritical itself.

 

[ckam]

Answering the question: No, not really. Sure we all do it, but we do this so then we won't be completely apathetic of other people and ourselves.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

I don't think we are too rough on hypocrisy per say. I think we are too outwardly focused with our criticism instead. We are all hypocrites, we all have flaws. In the grand scheme of things, nobody is really better then anyone else, and if we are all just pointing fingers instead of looking inward, nobody really improves, things don't get done.

Why improve when you can just blame someone else? We all love to say it's us and them, but nobody admits to being one of them, when the reality is that we are all them. We are all the bad guys in some way.

 

[Kortney]

We are all hypocrites, but some people are worse than others. I only point out hypocrisy if it goes beyond the acceptable measure.

 

[TeeBs]

Attacking hypocrisies is a good thing. Better to fix yourself then keep on doing it.