I suspect it is a case by case paradigm and founded on one's life experiences.
Real example in the news: from inside the Trump camp, it appears he has been advised to both maintain the hard line on immigration but soften it up in order to appear more palatable to moderate voters. Political expediency in the flesh
From Mr Trump's own mouth ... a softening but it is still hard
a penis, can not be at the same time, soft and hard
