Many people have problems with double standards. In many cases, I agree, but in a few, I don’t. In a few cases, I purposely support double standards.
Here are the two main objections against double standards and why I don’t always buy them.
Objection #1: Double standards aren’t fair.
I don’t want what’s fair. I agree that fairness in general is noble, and I try to be fair with other people. But for me personally, I don’t want what I deserve. I want more than I deserve.
So this objection doesn’t fit my belief system.
Objection #2: Double standards aren’t accurate.
I agree with this… sometimes. I don’t think it’s a good generalization, though. I think sometimes double standards aren’t accurate and sometimes they are. It depends on your perspective.
So let me give an example of a double standard I support, so you can see what I mean in practice.
I think if you’re the teacher in a classroom, it’s your responsibility to keep your students engaged, learning, and excelling. If class is lousy, you’re a lousy teacher.
But I also think if you’re the student, it’s your responsibility to keep yourself engaged, learning, and excelling and help others in the class (including the teacher) do the same. If class is lousy, you’re a lousy student.
That’s a double standard, but I support it.
Now you might say that’s not really a double standard. You might interpret what I’m saying to mean that BOTH the teacher and the student are responsible for the class.
But that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying whichever you are, the teacher or the student, it’s your fault entirely. You can’t say, “Well, if the teacher just did her part.” Or you can’t say, “Well, if the student just did his part.” Whichever you are, you are solely responsible.
It’s part of my view of subjective reality. But yeah, that’s how I support double standards.
