“This statement reads like a “wink wink”. Like when one parent says no to a kid to show solidarity with the other parent, but the kid knows he’s getting what he wants from the first one.”
I went back to read that statement. I know nothing about the sources so I have no idea what trust to place in them or not but I will say that it did not read that way. That you just can’t be objective, and that disqualifies you. If you know you are throwing in 2% sheker or loshon hora to 98% truth you don’t have permission to proceed.