Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Hypocrite - NOT

I got a phone call yesterday to help out with our, um, well I don't really know what we call it anymore BUT it use to be "Enrichment Night" at my church. This great gal asked if I would talk a couple minutes about blogging as a form of journaling.

The first thing that went through my mind was . . . now, when was the last time I blogged? Needless to say, I totally felt like a hypocrite knowing I haven't been real consistent the last few months with blogging.

On a whim I looked up the word "hypocrisy" on Wikipedia to see what they have to say about the subject. If you haven't played around on Wikipedia, I urge you to go and do. It makes your time wasting net surfing feel enlightening. Anyways, here is what I found:


Hypocrisy is the act of persistently pretending to hold beliefs, opinions, virture, feelings, qualities or standards that one does not actually hold. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie.

I got to thinking about that definition. I really don't pretend to blog. I do it. Inconsistently, yes . . . but I do it. I believe it's good. I think it's a great way to keep in touch with friends and family and, HOLY COW, I love that other people comment on it!

Here is some more of what Wiki had to say:

Hypocrisy may come from a desire to hide from others actual motives or feelings. Hypocrisy is not simply an inconsistency between what is advocated and what is done.

Ok. I don't hide the fact that I have some flaky loser qualities. I might limit my time with other people so they don't pick up on them. If you have noticed them in me, well, I've probably noticed them to. Some things are just hard to shake. According to the above definition my inconsistency at blogging or being on time isn't that I don't have the desire. It's that I am still working on that one. Right?

When I read the next part I felt vindicated.


Samuel Johnson made this point when he wrote about the misuse of the charge of "hypocrisy" in Rambler No. 14:

"Nothing is more unjust, however common, than to charge with hypocrisy him that expresses zeal for those virtues which he neglects to practice; since he may be sincerely convinced of the advantages of conquering his passions, without having yet obtained the victory, as a man may be confident of the advantages of a voyage, or a journey, without having courage or industry to undertake it, and may honestly recommend to others, those attempts which he neglects himself."
So, to all those who will hear me praise the virtues of blogging as a kind of journaling tonight, know that I am expressing my desire for and further action of some good ol' fashion blogging. Maybe I need more courage. Maybe I need to conquer my time mismanagement issue. Maybe I need to store that stinkin' cord for my camera in a more convienent place! Maybe I need to answer this . . .
Does a hypocrite ever think they're really a hypocrite?

8 comments:

Peggy said...

That's funny-- Alecia and I had a lengthy conversation about what was considered hypocrisy or not just today! (Don't ask me what makes a 7 year old want to understand this concept so badly.)

And part of the explanation was that hypocrisy was NOT, for example, saying that you believe everyone should exercise (which I do), but neglect to actually do yourself (which, sadly, I do).

Oh, and by the way... The more people hang out with you, the more they are amazed by you, not pick up on loser qualities! Silly girl. And some people are really feeling like they haven't had nearly enough "hang out with Kellie" time lately. I'm just sayin.

tammy said...

Yay!! I'm finally free!! I'm so glad you cleared that up, because now I can defend myself when I call myself a hypocrite! ;)

Wendy said...

Hypocrisy is a deep subject for a blog. But I'm feeling better about all the things I don't do now . . . THANKS!

Yoli said...

I haven't known you long, but I feel pretty confident in saying that the word hypocrite does not conjure up a memory of you. It's pretty safe to say that you have nothing to worry about.

Harmony said...

Enjoyed your talk at whatever that meeting is called now. Thanks for the clarification about hypocrisy. Now I know I'm just lazy. :-)

Nicholle said...

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts at our RS "Excitement" night...I know that isn't the right technical term, but Bro. Sederholm used it and I like it! Did you like our smoothies?

Carterista said...

What a great definition to know. I feel better already, too!

Shauna said...

Loved yor comments, Kellie! And I'd never have considered you a hypocrite, ever.