People will say stuff like “you’re one to talk. You do the same thing”, “the pot calling the kettle black” etc. Here’s the thing though. Them not doing it themselves doesn’t make what they’re saying any less true. Someone can smoke a pack of cigarettes a day and still tell someone else that they shouldn’t smoke because it’s damaging their health. If anything, the guy who doesn’t “practice what he preaches” would know even better because he’s probably feeling the negative effects himself and warning the other person to stop before it’s too late.
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In some scenarios this is correct, but in others not so much, as sometimes it just makes you a hypocrite.
So this depends on what it is they are preaching.
Remember pathos, ethos and logos from persuasive writing in high school? If not here is ethos.
Ethos is a persuasive technique that builds trust and credibility with an audience by highlighting the speaker’s or writer’s character, authority, and expertise. It’s often referred to as the “appeal to authority” or “appeal to credibility”
We’re going to be persuaded more easily by someone with credibility or expertise. So whilst it’s by no means essential, it would be better if someone could speak from expertise/experience when giving advice, otherwise it’s just an uninformed opinion (and they can be absolutely worthless).
i agree. i have never been in a romantic relationship however according to my friends i give very good relationship advice. to be fair my main piece of advice is “communicate with ur partner”
Yes and no. If it is general advice and well intentioned effort to help better another person I agree 1000%.
However typically the pot kettle saying is referring to a person judging and looking down on another person. Its not helpful advice but rather treating the other person as failing because of whatever it is.
I think this is fairly true as long as the advice giver isn’t actively contributing to the act being committed by the person that they are advising. For example, in the situation that you spoke of where a smoker might advise someone else not to smoke … that’s a situation that’s very dear to my heart as a smoker of 20+ years who hasn’t been able to beat his addiction although he has tried repeatedly in the past two years. I don’t think it would make me a hypocrite to advise younger people not to start smoking because it’s hard to quit and disastrous for your health. I’m a prime example of how hard it is to quit even when you know it’s the best thing for your health. However, I would be a hypocrite if I advised a young person not to begin smoking then gave them a cigarette just because they asked.
True, but it’s annoying for someone to tell someone to not do something when they don’t know how to not do it themselves.
This depends on the context and what the scenario is.
Sometimes its true, but most of the times its not.
The problem is that if someone doesn’t practice what they preach or have experience of what they are talking about, they often have a far too simplistic or naive view. Often, I find it’s taken from online sources, which are either just not practical or from someone with extreme views.
For example, I run a lot. The guys who give me the most advice on running are always those who haven’t achieved much in running but spend a lot of time online. When I ask guys who I want to emulate, their advice is always far more practical and useful.
The problem isn’t practicing what one preaches — it’s preaching.
Most of the time when we say this, it’s because it seems the person is judging us, not providing effective advice.
“You should work out more” vs “physical exercise has these benefits”
Depends on context. For example, a selfish basketball player that always shoots and never passes gets angry at teammate for not passing him the ball. Ironically calls that teammate selfish. Such a person deserves to told the stuff you said people shouldn’t say.