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"You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means."
In some circles, typically people promoting mindfulness and/or kindness, they circulate a set of ethical guidelines via the acronym T.H.I.N.K. It has many variations, but it generally goes as follows:
Before saying anything, just THINK; this is to ask yourself five questions:
1. Is it True?
2. Is it Helpful?
3. Is it Interesting? (sometimes "Inspiring", which is similar enough)
4. Is it Necessary?
5. Is it Kind?
The notion is that whatever you say should meet those five criteria. If a thought does not meet them, you shouldn't say it; just keep it to yourself.
At face value, this seems like good advice. Upon further reflection, its validity rests on numerous assumptions.
Wow...we start with a pretty hard one, deep into ontological and logical territory. By now it should be pretty obvious that there is no general consensus on truth in the world, so how should you determine whether your thought is true?
Do you believe in objective truth? If so, are you a verificationist? Do you believe that you and your interlocutor have the same access to the objective truth?
Do you believe in subjective truth? If so, why should you believe that anyone else shares your truth? Is your *feeling* that it is true good enough to subject someone else to it? If you believe it's true but someone else does not, how should you resolve the conflict?
This is more clearly subjective than T. How are you supposed to know whether something is helpful to someone else? Even if it is, maybe they don't want it.
Even more subjective. How well do you know your audience? Do you know what interests them? Sure, you find your own thoughs fascinating, but what if nobody else cares?
Are you yelling, "Look out!" to save someone's life? Are you providing instruction to people who need it? Are you telling people something they really don't already know? Of all the things you ever say, how many could be considered necessary?
Is it kind, or just what you think is kind? Is it kind in the sense that it's what you wish someone would tell you? Even if it is, are you sure it's not cruel to someone else? Have you ever cheerily said, "Happy birthday!" to someone who hates being reminded of it? How about "Merry Christmas!" to someone who's father was killed on that day? Is it cruel or kind to reinforce someone's delusions? In practice, kindness is full of assumptions.
This whole text violates T.H.I.N.K.: I can't prove it's true. Probably nobody will find it helpful. Few would find it interesting. It's definitely unnecessary (except to get it out of my head). Obviously, it's not very kind to a whole lot of people.