I am a hypocrite. I judge people. I hurt people. I hate and devalue and disregard people. However, I hop on the band wagon of equality and peace the minute it rolls by. I stand up for the person on the internet who's being bullied. I'm right there in the comments saying things like "Don't listen to them, you're beautiful" and the next thing I know I'm commenting "lol" on a video of someone getting in a fight. I know it's wrong, and I sound like a terrible person at first, but look back at your life. Look back on your entire life, and tell me you haven't said one hurtful comment, or done one rude thing to another person. You can't. No one can. I guess it's just human nature for us to tear each other down, and then turn around and build each other back up. It's an endless cycle.
We laugh at each other's expense. We hate and hurt and judge but only when it's convenient to us. When it's not, we put on some cheap armor and march into the battle of social justice and acceptance. We flock to the internet posting inspirational, uplifting comments trying to spread what ever halfhearted support we can. We don't even really do it for the people who need the help and support, we do it for ourselves. We do it so we can say, "Bullying is wrong!" or "I think everyone is beautiful in his/her own way!" We do it to make ourselves feel like we're making a difference.
In reality, in the real world, where we aren't hidden behind a keyboard, how many of us actually stand up for someone who's being bullied? How many of us actually take time to think before we speak, because we don't know how our words can effect someone else? How many of us speak out against racism, sexism,bullying, or shaming of any kind? Not enough of us. Sure, there are plenty of people who truly are trying to be the best they can be, but a millionth percent of the world's population isn't enough to make a difference.
Even now I'm a hypocrite, preaching to you about how awful people are, when in fact I'm one of those people. And if you're reading this thinking it doesn't apply to you, you're a hypocrite too. Now, I'm not saying we are completely doomed to a life of hypocrisy and shallowness. In my opinion, if you know you're a hypocrite, you're better off. If you know you'd laugh and share a picture of an overweight person wearing a bikini, but would jump at the chance to support and defend an overweight friend in a crop top, then you're not totally lost. At least you know you're human. At least you know you're not above anyone else, and you know you are just as bad as the rest of us.
I'm not saying being a hypocrite is a good thing, in fact I kind of hate hypocrisy (which makes me the biggest hypocrite of all, ah irony). It'd be so much easier if people would just say what they mean and mean what they say.I just think that knowing makes you a little bit better than those who don't (don't let it go to your head). I mean to say that if you know how much of a hypocrite you are, the next time you go to hit 'post' you can think twice about it and decide if you're actually doing/ saying the right thing.
Instead of being in denial and assuming you're actions have no part in the world's messed up society. Being a hypocrite almost gives you a chance at redemption, you have the opportunity to look at what you're doing and change it so you can be part of that millionth percent. You can either take your hypocrisy, acknowledge it and use it to make better decisions that make the world a little less awful, or you can pretend you're perfect and continue on in you're delusional world. So yeah, we're all hypocrites, but that doesn't make us bad people, it's how we choose to live with this two-faced,messed up lifestyle that makes us good or bad.
