What is the difference between reasons and excuses? To me it seems like it is in how they are conveyed, reasons are just why you did something you did but excuses are reasons that are used to justify behavior.
But these seem interchangeable in the real world. I can’t seem to explain my reasoning behind anything without being told I’m giving excuses.
How do you convey your reasoning behind things without coming off as if you are trying to excuse yourself?
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It depends on the rules of the land.
In a might makes right situation, your social status, word choice & tone, reputation, and audience will have a big impact in the court of public opinion.
In a 1:1 environment with an intelligent person who doesn’t take all their opinions from the culture at large and status quo, facts and logic will matter more.
There are possibilities to misjudge in both scenarios but moreso in the first.
In reality it is a scale from 100% excuse to 100% reason, and how much power you personally have to act and predict is the actual deciding factor…. but good luck getting people to discuss that in detail and without bias and with good judgment.
Most things are not 100% and you end up having things that have excuse character and reason character. I was late to work because I got hit by another car. 10% excuse (you could probably have been more aware) : 90% reason (they hit you and driving in inherently unsafe). I was late to work because it snowed is 90% excuse (check the weather the day before) : 10% reason (life gets in the way of checking the weather sometimes and sometimes it is hard to predict how early to leave.)
I accidentally cheated because tequila makes me crazy is 100% excuse. I missed my flight because of unexpected diarrhea is 100% reason….. unless you are cognitively impaired or eating food that sat out for days….. and because there can always be a caveat, people just make up their minds without discussing it and move on.