Tuesday, November 08, 2005

doublemint standard

Sometimes we talk about someone applying a "double standard", meaning usually that a (moral) standard is being applied more strictly to one group than to another.

But sometimes there isn't a single standard that fits every situation. Sometimes applying different standards to different people or in different contexts makes perfect sense -- the alternative would be to have one standard for everything, which would be stupid (should we let 6-yr-olds drive just because 16-yr-olds can?)

As H.L. Mencken -- or quite possibly someone else -- said: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...

1 Comments:

At Tue Nov 08, 11:34:00 PM PST, Blogger jay are said...

But it's so much easier than thinking sometimes. Or having to do the hard work.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home