Hippo's Crazy

Hypocrisy is the inconsistency of standards, both upon others and oneself. It is the belief that a given set of restrictions on opinions and behaviors applies at the preference of the individual, not at all times, regardless of possible consequences. Sometimes an example of hypocrisy is egregious, other times it's not. Indeed, sometimes a case of hypocrisy, while valid, is understandable, such as saying all life is sacred, but claiming a willingness to let many die in order to save a loved one. Therefore, a mother that puts her child first is a hypocrite if she expressed the moral principle of the sanctity of life, but she is not necessarily wrong for her choice. Objectively, perhaps, but her bias was one most can understand, and they, too, would most likely do the same thing as had that mother. In other words, an understanding of human nature can elicit sympathy for examples of hypocrisy, even with some of the worst possible consequences as a result of such acceptance.

Yet, while hypocrisy exists, there is a rather arrogant assumption made by citing it: Too many of those who claim it are not only themselves hypocrites (which is unsurprising when one assumes humanity is naturally imperfect), they are also under the mistaken belief that others will agree that they were the first victims of whatever act of hypocrisy has allegedly been committed against them or those who they attempt to speak on behalf of. The question of who was hypocritical toward whom first must necessarily be ignored in order for the present complaint on hypocrisy to be respected, especially when given by an obvious hypocrite on the very subject of his complaint. The present complaint on hypocrisy is not, though, invalidated by its authors own hypocrisy, but it does exist as an example of the ludicrous expectations we so often have. Can it be answered who, first, was subjected to hypocrisy? The further removed from the original example, the less we can be certain of the answer to that question.

When it comes to hypocrisy, unless ignoring it very probable risks endangering others, I would rather allow it to pass by. I am not likely the first, nor shall I be the last, victim of it, and I cannot observe by my own observation just who was; I haven't such certainty in what I see and know, and I never shall.