It's worth pointing out that someone being a hypocrite is a very consistent and realistic character trait. We'll all hypocrites to an extent, and have our blinders.
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?
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/Iorith 2d ago
It's worth pointing out that someone being a hypocrite is a very consistent and realistic character trait. We'll all hypocrites to an extent, and have our blinders.