Candor and Truth

In yesterday's post, in reference to the Divergent book series, I referred to candor as "telling the truth."

As I was walking home from the train yesterday, though, it occurred to me that a distinction exists between candor and truth, although many people use the terms somewhat interchangeably (including myself, at times, obvs).  For a statement to be candid, it does not have to be objectively true.  In a sense, a candid statement has to "truly" represent someone's thoughts, but the thought itself is often a subjective matter of opinion or it is "true" in the sense that it's an authentic emotion.

In in the context of debates and the so-called culture wars, I think that those who take an intense pride on being "politically incorrect" often make a similar mix-up.  When they make a statement about, say, the purported illogic or immorality of homosexuality, the "politically incorrect" seem to think they are telling the world some important truths that people these days need to hear.

It's helpful to remember that what they're usually speaking with is candor, and not in reference to a truth outside of their own opinions, emotions, and/or chosen religious and moral beliefs.

By the way, does anyone watch The Good Wife?  You know that judge, played by Ana Gasteyer, who hilariously adds "...in your opinion" to every argument the attorneys make?  Internet, debates, religion, and - let's face it - the world seriously needs an "in your opinion" generator that tacks that phrase onto every asinine, bigoted opinion that people try to pass off as truth.