Re: My 2 cents

Hypocrite is kind of a tricky label - like ill-considered advice it is all to easy to throw out there at someone.  If I advise someone that it is never right to strike a woman and then go home and beat up my wife or girlfriend, I would be a hypocrite of the highest order.  On the other hand, if I advise a would-be soccer player to practice juggling the ball, dribbling, trapping and other skills for an hour or two each day but I don't do that myself does that make me a hypocrite?  Hardly.

Advice does not always apply to ones self, and even when it does there is nothing wrong with advising someone to do better than what you personally do.  You might technically be a hypocrite if you did that - but you would be worse if you didn't.  I mean, we are all sinners, so if we tell someone that they should not sin does that make all of us hypocrites?  If it does, count me in that number.

There is also the consideration of advice versus information.  If I post an article or a link to something that is merely informational and for the purposes of education, thought or discussion, that does not mean I am endorsing or recommending it (though it might often make good sense to point out the distinction).  On the other hand, if I do put such information forth as advice, or if I put it forth and then get into discussing the how-to's and why for's and make it appear to be advice, then I would certainly feel that I had an obligation to stick with anyone who followed such advice.  At some point, it seems to me that a person with an advice forum either has to make it clear that they are just discussing something or actually recommending and endorsing it.

To first do no harm and never mock or ignore someone I advise is certainly how I try to conduct myself here.  Hopefully I do a pretty decent job of that.

DQ