I don't understand willful ignorance

[Benel Germosen]

I just...don't comprehend people who willingly allow themselves not to know shit. I mean, I understand not being interested by certain subjects or finding some subjects boring (until recently, this was my case with sports), but the absolutely, seeming gleeful obliviousness that I find myself confronted with on a semi-regular basis bothers me.

[dasNdanger]

I just...don't comprehend people who willingly allow themselves not to know shit. I mean, I understand not being interested by certain subjects or finding some subjects boring (until recently, this was my case with sports), but the absolutely, seeming gleeful obliviousness that I find myself confronted with on a semi-regular basis bothers me.

Maybe because it gives them an excuse not to be responsible or accountable. I don't care if someone doesn't know who Humphrey Bogart is (though it does break my heart a little), but I DO get irritated when someone doesn't know - and doesn't care to know - about human suffering, animals on the brink of extinction, or the destruction of earth's enviroments in the name of 'progress' - those things that may have a bearing on the planet's future. The 'I don't care to know about it because I won't be around to see it' mentality does irk me a bit. I also get annoyed by people who just do not want to know about other cultures/peoples. However...I have come to accept that many (most?) people have a very narrow world view, and that's their business, so I don't make an issue of it.


das

[Kurt Russell Crowe]

More than anything, people want to not think about things. If they have to think about things, they'll have to confront numerous issues about their beliefs and what they're doing with their lives, and people would rather just say fuck it, I'll concentrate on earning money and consuming things.

[Ethan Van Sciver]

More than anything, people want to not think about things. If they have to think about things, they'll have to confront numerous issues about their beliefs and what they're doing with their lives, and people would rather just say fuck it, I'll concentrate on earning money and consuming things.

If only they'd do that.

But what things should they stop earning money and consuming things to think about and confront?

[Rafiennes]

They're afraid of realizing that the world extends past their little bubble.

[mario]

it's worse when said people aren't willing to review their beliefs even when presented by facts.

[stevapalooza]

People who are clueless about geography amaze me. I don't mean people who can't find Uzbekistan on a map. I mean people who can't find their own continent on a map. Aren't you even a tiny bit curious about the general layout of your planet?

[Ethan Van Sciver]

People who are clueless about geography amaze me. I don't mean people who can't find Uzbekistan on a map. I mean people who can't find their own continent on a map. Aren't you even a tiny bit curious about the general layout of your planet?

That's just laziness, it's not willful ignorance. You'd probably be able to say to that person, LOOK AT THIS MAP, THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE. CAN YOU REMEMBER IT?! And then you could shake their head up and down for them, and they'd probably remember it.

Willful ignorance would be someone saying, "Fuck you, I will never remember it and you can't make me."

[stevapalooza]

That's just laziness, it's not willful ignorance. You'd probably be able to say to that person, LOOK AT THIS MAP, THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE. CAN YOU REMEMBER IT?! And then you could shake their head up and down for them, and they'd probably remember it.

Willful ignorance would be someone saying, "Fuck you, I will never remember it and you can't make me."

Well yeah that's who I meant. Anti-map extremists.

[Ethan Van Sciver]

Well yeah that's who I meant. Anti-map extremists.

Palin voters.

[stevapalooza]

Palin voters.

No, they like maps. They just don't like them to be of anything other than Alaska.

[Ethan Van Sciver]

No, they like maps. They just don't like them to be of anything other than Alaska.

They should send a Jewish doctor from NYC there against his will. Hilarity would probably ensue. For 6 seasons.

[LordKinbote]

I just...don't comprehend people who willingly allow themselves not to know shit. I mean, I understand not being interested by certain subjects or finding some subjects boring (until recently, this was my case with sports), but the absolutely, seeming gleeful obliviousness that I find myself confronted with on a semi-regular basis bothers me.

I think you choose not to understand it.

;)

[Ethan Van Sciver]

i think you choose not to understand it.

;)

ftw

[greg donovan]

I just...don't comprehend people who willingly allow themselves not to know shit. I mean, I understand not being interested by certain subjects or finding some subjects boring (until recently, this was my case with sports), but the absolutely, seeming gleeful obliviousness that I find myself confronted with on a semi-regular basis bothers me.

tried to show my manager how to do something on the computer at work with fewer steps. she flat out told me it wsa not possible to do it that way shook her head and kept sayin no. this is in spite of the fact that i just did it the day before. however, i now trick her into doing it the way she says is impossible every day. :twisted:

[leafinsectman]

I'd like to think that we're getting better as a whole and that group of people would get smaller and smaller. I mean, imagine the awful shit that we used to do compared to now. Still quite a bit of awful shit going around today but I'd like to think its not as bad as the shit from days of yore.

[Ben]

That's most of humanity and, sadly, most of humanity isn't capable intellectually of learning about the subjects they're ignorant of.

[Ultimate Lurker]

A week after the earthquake, I had a co-worker who didn't know how to pronounce Haiti and didn't know they had an earthquake there.

[GelfXIII]

There are some things I choose not to become overly informed on, simply because they're so complex and involved that it would take too much of my time and resources to become fully educated on. Instead I rely on the informed opinions and knowledge of those who have taken the time and effort to become educated on. Not to say that a base knowledge on many different subjects isn't part of being a well rounded and well educated member of society, it certainly is every citizen's duty to be so, but I think there is a certain delegation of expertise in today's society necessary to function. I, for instance, am not as well informed on health insurance, financial policies, or international law as some. However I know more than most about TV production, the history and future of the space program, and environmental issues. So I'm willing to be led by those that know more than I on those issues of which I seem to be "willfully ignorant" of, as I lead those who know less than me on the subjects on which I claim expertise.

[Taxman]

Palin voters.This is your explanation for the whole Russia/Alaska thing?

[dasNdanger]

People who are clueless about geography amaze me. I don't mean people who can't find Uzbekistan on a map. I mean people who can't find their own continent on a map. Aren't you even a tiny bit curious about the general layout of your planet?


That's just laziness, it's not willful ignorance. You'd probably be able to say to that person, LOOK AT THIS MAP, THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE. CAN YOU REMEMBER IT?! And then you could shake their head up and down for them, and they'd probably remember it.

Willful ignorance would be someone saying, "Fuck you, I will never remember it and you can't make me."

Sometimes it's neither willful ignorance or laziness - some people (I have a friend like this) honestly TRIES to learn where she is, but is absolutely terrible with directions and maps. I think this may be true of people who just have no concept of direction and space. However, there are those types that stevapalooza mentions - they just do not want to know what's outside of their little realm. Americans are very bad with this. I remember meeting a woman from Kenya - I asked her where she was from, and she said 'Kenya', and I said, 'That's where Lake Victoria is - are you from near there, or maybe Nairobi?' At first she seemed shocked, then her face lit up and she said, 'You know my country?! Most Americans do not know anything about it! HOW do you know my country??' - and from there a conversation started, I told her that I knew a little about Kenya just from reading about it (National Geographics are great for that sort of thing), and I learned that she was, indeed, from Nairobi, and also had a place near Lake Victoria where her family would stay during part of the year.

But I've had that response from many people - they are amazed when an American knows about their country. Americans (as a whole) for some reason just don't seem to care about what lies outside their borders, and sometimes even within. Way back in the 40s my dad was in the navy with a guy, and the fella asked him where he was from, and dad said, 'Iowa', and the guy replied, 'Is that in the United States?' :roll:

das

[maverick-99]

Ignorance is bliss.

http://litteringand.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/bliss1.jpg

[Ethan Van Sciver]

Sometimes it's neither willful ignorance or laziness - some people (I have a friend like this) honestly TRIES to learn where she is, but is absolutely terrible with directions and maps. I think this may be true of people who just have no concept of direction and space. However, there are those types that stevapalooza mentions - they just do not want to know what's outside of their little realm. Americans are very bad with this. I remember meeting a woman from Kenya - I asked her where she was from, and she said 'Kenya', and I said, 'That's where Lake Victoria is - are you from near there, or maybe Nairobi?' At first she seemed shocked, then her face lit up and she said, 'You know my country?! Most Americans do not know anything about it! HOW do you know my country??' - and from there a conversation started, I told her that I knew a little about Kenya just from reading about it (National Geographics are great for that sort of thing), and I learned that she was, indeed, from Nairobi, and also had a place near Lake Victoria where her family would stay during part of the year.

But I've had that response from many people - they are amazed when an American knows about their country. Americans (as a whole) for some reason just don't seem to care about what lies outside their borders, and sometimes even within. Way back in the 40s my dad was in the navy with a guy, and the fella asked him where he was from, and dad said, 'Iowa', and the guy replied, 'Is that in the United States?' :roll:

das

I'm not great with local maps either. But I know where England is.

[Brian Defferding]

it's worse when said people aren't willing to review their beliefs even when presented by facts.

Even worse, when people become hostile and want the other person silenced when presented by facts.

[Foolish Mortal]

There are just certain types of people who become set in their ideas of how things work and anything that conflicts with that is wrong and immediately dismissed.

You can't argue or have any debate with those kind of people because they won't listen. They will not have their ideas and beliefs questioned.

The Flat Earthers are a good example of that.

[dasNdanger]

I'm not great with local maps either. But I know where England is.

It's that big, damp, foggy island nor-nor'east of Ushant!



das

[Cth]

Can someone summarize what this thread is about for me?

[Martin J]

People who in the face of overwhelming evidence still believe vaccines are evil.

[Jim T.]

Can someone summarize what this thread is about for me?

I have no idea!

[dasNdanger]

Can someone summarize what this thread is about for me?

You!



das

[Mattman]

It's that big, damp, foggy island nor-nor'east of Ushant!
I heard there's werewolves there! Oh wait, that's London. My bad.

[dasNdanger]

I heard there's werewolves there! Oh wait, that's London. My bad.

Where wolves??


:scared:


das

[Wigner's Friend]

Have you guys ever noticed that Jebediah Springfield looks a lot like Hans Sprungfeld?

[Jim T.]

Where wolves??


:scared:


das

There.