Is ignorance bliss?
Discussion
Can't help wondering if keeping up with current affairs is actually a bad thing.
I mean it seems that wherever you look online or watch the news there is nothing but bad news, bad predictions and disasters in some part in the world. Do you feel this contributes to our subconscious stress levels and general state of happiness and the way we we deal with our own life problems?
Would being a non informed adult person who is ignorant to what's happening around them be worse or better?
I mean it seems that wherever you look online or watch the news there is nothing but bad news, bad predictions and disasters in some part in the world. Do you feel this contributes to our subconscious stress levels and general state of happiness and the way we we deal with our own life problems?
Would being a non informed adult person who is ignorant to what's happening around them be worse or better?
My parents make a point of watching the 6pm and 10pm news and also news bulletins on the radio. They constantly seem stressed and always have an opinion on current affairs.
I never watch the news and will only hear it on the radio in the car, or hear things from others. The only social media I do is here and occasionally Twitter but that is more for sport.
Granted I am far from stretched but I also feel very out of touch at times.
I never watch the news and will only hear it on the radio in the car, or hear things from others. The only social media I do is here and occasionally Twitter but that is more for sport.
Granted I am far from stretched but I also feel very out of touch at times.
I think so, even reading the local news is depressing yet alone the global, just coming home from work yesterday I was accosted by some climate change protesters and further down the road some Kashmir protests.
People say it's worse now due to the online information age we are living in but I think it was worse back in the cold war, still remember as a very young child the nuclear drills we used to perform in school and wondering wtf hiding under the table is going to do in the event of nuclear armageddon.
People say it's worse now due to the online information age we are living in but I think it was worse back in the cold war, still remember as a very young child the nuclear drills we used to perform in school and wondering wtf hiding under the table is going to do in the event of nuclear armageddon.
jazzdude said:
The thing is as an adult in this 'complicated' world, can you be that person in a group somewhere that cannot contribute to a conversation nor does not have an informed opinion?
Or that you come across as not being concerned and thus judged negatively?
Possibly. But in that conversation, you could say you've been so busy with work that you haven't had time to catch up on the news (implying you normally listen to the news) and ask them to fill you in on the details. Most people will only be so happy to gossip.Or that you come across as not being concerned and thus judged negatively?
Just spent a couple of weeks on holiday with our two daughters, their husbands and a few grandchildren.
One of the lads is away with the fairies anyway, but the other is a teacher and I was suprised he has no general, even very high level, knowledge or interest in surrent affairs at all. Sport though - he's an absolute expert on pretty well any sport.
One of the lads is away with the fairies anyway, but the other is a teacher and I was suprised he has no general, even very high level, knowledge or interest in surrent affairs at all. Sport though - he's an absolute expert on pretty well any sport.
I find that ignorance whilst not blissful allows for a better life. We are haunted by the media nowadays. Storm this, hurricane that, stabbings here, paedophiles there, terrorists in your garden shouting "Allah Akbar". Be afraid, be very afraid. We are more and more being controlled by fear, fear of what is unlikely to happen. It is, in my opinion, mind control.
However, I am lucky, I live in rural North Wales, having removed myself and my young family from the grid (we have electricity and broadband but zero mobile signal which is great!).
I just cannot understand urban life as a choice, especially in major cities! I lived in Clapham in the early 90's and it was ace, worked in the City in the Lloyds Insurance market and had great times. Now? With what I know about the capital of the world and what it has become? Not a chance on God's earth for all of the tea in China. Everybody is a hamster on a wheel and it is a sheethole. Yes people can bolt to their 'nice' overpriced house in the burbs but there's still the feral not a spit and a fart away.
My kids go off into the woods (8 and 7) with not a worry for me. They are ignorant of the guttery part of life and why shouldn't they be? It is their ignorance which is blissful for me and long may I preserve it for them.
Note to the BBC. Please stop telling us about the weather every ten minutes!!
We know, its outside, I can fecking see it!!!
However, I am lucky, I live in rural North Wales, having removed myself and my young family from the grid (we have electricity and broadband but zero mobile signal which is great!).
I just cannot understand urban life as a choice, especially in major cities! I lived in Clapham in the early 90's and it was ace, worked in the City in the Lloyds Insurance market and had great times. Now? With what I know about the capital of the world and what it has become? Not a chance on God's earth for all of the tea in China. Everybody is a hamster on a wheel and it is a sheethole. Yes people can bolt to their 'nice' overpriced house in the burbs but there's still the feral not a spit and a fart away.
My kids go off into the woods (8 and 7) with not a worry for me. They are ignorant of the guttery part of life and why shouldn't they be? It is their ignorance which is blissful for me and long may I preserve it for them.
Note to the BBC. Please stop telling us about the weather every ten minutes!!
We know, its outside, I can fecking see it!!!
For the first couple of decades as an adult I never voted nor gave a hoot about anything political tbh.
I've lived in Cyprus for the last 25 years and initially did not have an interest in politics here either nor what was going on around me, and living in a virtual crime free and trusting society didn't have to concern myself with anything outside of here.
But now in my mid 50s, for the last five years or so I find myself glued to the news sites and am obsessed with developments with, for instance, brexit even though the outcome will have no impact on me whatsoever.
I even read the local papers where they really are only reporting about banana politics and crazy small island issues and feel that I should be up to date with all of it as all of a sudden it all matters.
I am rational enough to know that out here it does not matter to me personally but I just cannot ignore it either as perhaps, I don't know, maybe something important happens that I have to be fully informed on.
I can't explain it tbh but perhaps it's an age thing.
My fondest memories of both my grandfathers was them sitting a foot away from a wireless at specific times of the day when the news was coming on and we having to be quiet as church mice in the corner until the bulletins were over.
I've lived in Cyprus for the last 25 years and initially did not have an interest in politics here either nor what was going on around me, and living in a virtual crime free and trusting society didn't have to concern myself with anything outside of here.
But now in my mid 50s, for the last five years or so I find myself glued to the news sites and am obsessed with developments with, for instance, brexit even though the outcome will have no impact on me whatsoever.
I even read the local papers where they really are only reporting about banana politics and crazy small island issues and feel that I should be up to date with all of it as all of a sudden it all matters.
I am rational enough to know that out here it does not matter to me personally but I just cannot ignore it either as perhaps, I don't know, maybe something important happens that I have to be fully informed on.
I can't explain it tbh but perhaps it's an age thing.
My fondest memories of both my grandfathers was them sitting a foot away from a wireless at specific times of the day when the news was coming on and we having to be quiet as church mice in the corner until the bulletins were over.
I'd love to find a way to cut news off completely.
I can barely think of one single event the media has ever reported that had an effect on my day to day life.
The constant spew of hate, outrage and misery helps no one.
Since we're already capable of building our own echo chambers I'd like some sort of AI that keeps me forever ignorant with skilful diversions.
I can barely think of one single event the media has ever reported that had an effect on my day to day life.
The constant spew of hate, outrage and misery helps no one.
Since we're already capable of building our own echo chambers I'd like some sort of AI that keeps me forever ignorant with skilful diversions.
DaveH23 said:
My parents make a point of watching the 6pm and 10pm news and also news bulletins on the radio. They constantly seem stressed and always have an opinion on current affairs.
The news is never good and it is full of terrible things that are about to happen that never amount to anything. Recession, Snowmageddon, house prices crashing, brexit, share prices, exchange rates, interest rates, bird flu etc. etc.When you start watching the news and hear about these things you start to worry about then even thought you have no control over them, it probably won't happen and even if it does it probably won't affect you.
Best thing to do is not watch the news, don't go on social media and don't read glossy magazines. I am sure people would be a lot happier if they did this.
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