What do you think, Is ignorance bliss??

[AmyTrivitt]

Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is simply that, Ignorance. One can't claim that just because a person is ignorant they are happy. In fact, I believe it's the opposite. A truly ignorant person can't ever achieve true happiness, because part of happiness is the acceptance of life's experiences (both positive and negative). The ignorant haven't had, or don't understand these experiences, and therefore have not had the chance to arrive at the conclusion of acceptance. Furthermore, true ignorance is in most cases temporary. It may last for years, or even decades, but the majority of people do not live their entire lives in a state of ignorance. Instead, they at some point arrive at a sort of 'epiphany' of one kind or another. For a person who has lived up to this time in ignorance, this would come as quite a shock and would probably have more of an effect than it would on a less ignorant person. In this regard, when thinking about the long term, ignorance is actually an inhibitor of bliss, not a cause. While the ignorant may feel happy for a time, they are actually just unaware of the things that suppress bliss, meaning, they are not truly happy, simply ignorant.

[amyrouse]

I believe that if you are ignorant about certain things, it can be deemed bliss, but I also believe that knowledge is power!  Yes, I am a fan of schoolhouse rock.

Sure, I'd probably be happier without reading or studying the bible, but if I don't read it, how can I make my own interpretations, or have good debates on forums such as these?  j/k 

[AmyTrivitt]

I believe that if you are ignorant about certain things, it can be deemed bliss, but I also believe that knowledge is power!  Yes, I am a fan of schoolhouse rock.

Sure, I'd probably be happier without reading or studying the bible, but if I don't read it, how can I make my own interpretations, or have good debates on forums such as these?  j/k 

I know, I know its all trivial around here!

[amyrouse]

This is going to prove just how big of a nerd and nutcase I am...I love being challenged.  I get a thrill out of having a civil intellectual debate with someone...when someone intrigues me enough with their words to make me really think about something...and to get them to think just as much.  And then being able to  and walk away without  or  .

[jordandog]

Well, the only people I am close to and spend huge amounts of time with must all be "nerds and nutcases". I know this may sound catty, but I have NO tolerance for those like Sherene posted about. It even drives me crazy (if I allow it) to read how ignorant and blissfully blind to the world the majority of people on FC are. Have you seen some of the topics and posts, mostly outside of D&D, and wondered how they get by in life? I know I have. What bothers me is young people like this. They hold the future of this country in their hands?!     **shudder**

[miranthony]

Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is simply that, Ignorance. One can't claim that just because a person is ignorant they are happy. In fact, I believe it's the opposite. A truly ignorant person can't ever achieve true happiness, because part of happiness is the acceptance of life's experiences (both positive and negative). The ignorant haven't had, or don't understand these experiences, and therefore have not had the chance to arrive at the conclusion of acceptance. Furthermore, true ignorance is in most cases temporary. It may last for years, or even decades, but the majority of people do not live their entire lives in a state of ignorance. Instead, they at some point arrive at a sort of 'epiphany' of one kind or another. For a person who has lived up to this time in ignorance, this would come as quite a shock and would probably have more of an effect than it would on a less ignorant person. In this regard, when thinking about the long term, ignorance is actually an inhibitor of bliss, not a cause. While the ignorant may feel happy for a time, they are actually just unaware of the things that suppress bliss, meaning, they are not truly happy, simply ignorant.

[shernajwine]

Well, the only people I am close to and spend huge amounts of time with must all be "nerds and nutcases". I know this may sound catty, but I have NO tolerance for those like Sherene posted about. It even drives me crazy (if I allow it) to read how ignorant and blissfully blind to the world the majority of people on FC are. Have you seen some of the topics and posts, mostly outside of D&D, and wondered how they get by in life? I know I have. What bothers me is young people like this. They hold the future of this country in their hands?!     **shudder**

Jordan, I was reading your post and I read it wrong, I read it "NO tolerance for those like Sherene's posts." Lol I was hurt for a minute! I thought I know jordan probably disagrees with just about everything I say but I thought I at least earned some respect! lol

Anyway, I agree ignorance isn't bliss and it's only an excuse to a certain point. Once you have the ability to educate yourself about a situation you no longer have an excuse to be ignorant. I guess willful ignorance is what frustrates me. Someone merely being ignorant because they just never knew otherwise, they have the ability to learn.

[jordandog]

Jordan, I was reading your post and I read it wrong, I read it "NO tolerance for those like Sherene's posts." Lol I was hurt for a minute! I thought I know jordan probably disagrees with just about everything I say but I thought I at least earned some respect! lol

Anyway, I agree ignorance isn't bliss and it's only an excuse to a certain point. Once you have the ability to educate yourself about a situation you no longer have an excuse to be ignorant. I guess willful ignorance is what frustrates me. Someone merely being ignorant because they just never knew otherwise, they have the ability to learn.

I'm glad you went back and reread that! You are someone on here I have a whole lotta respect for. I can disagree with beliefs or opinions, but still have great respect for the holders of them. Yes, ignorance out of sheer laziness is what drives me crazy.

[miranthony]

my mothers boyfriend is an ignorant person when it comes to race. he is white, im hispanic and he has a black cousin. his daughter is also hispanic and some how he stays blissfully ignorant.

[loulizlee]

I think the old saying "ignorance is bliss" came from a bygone era when people thought if you did not know about something bad, it would not hurt or upset you.  However, I agree with the posters, most of which think ignorance definitely is NOT bliss.  In these days, most things do not stay hidden away forever, so you will eventually find out about it, and the bad things will hurt you then.  Besides, who wants to be ignorant in the sense of the word -that of being uneducated!