Ignorance.

[guntotingtomcat]

Why do we punish ignorance?
You know the scenario. You say "Sorry, where did the astronauts go?" or "Who got nuclear bombed in world war two?" or "Where does the Pope live?"
Basically, we have all been in the situation, or we know someone who has been in the situation, where there is a catastrophic common knowledge failure.
Every time I've seen this happen, people aren't just surprised, they're annoyed, to the point of being hostile. "How can you go through life and not know that!?" they say. "What is wrong with you!?", "Go read a book!" or "You're a retard!"
This peeves me. After all, we don't control what information we are exposed to in our lives. If we're ignorant, is it not the fault of our parents/teachers/circle of friends?
I would argue, though, as we live in a democracy (most of us) that we have a responsibility to make ourselves as intelligent as possible, to the best of our ability. If the population is smart, they'll probably pick the best leader. If the population is not so smart, they'll merely pick the most charismatic leader.
Surely we are allowed to not know the odd commonly known fact, however. For me, I didn't know that Britney Spears was American. And I can't name a single Rolling Stones song.

Anyway, I have two questions for you, to answer at your leisure.
1. Have you ever found yourself completely ignorant of some fact everyone else knows?
2. What is your view of ignorance and responsibility?

EDIT: I mean ignorance to mean 'not knowing something', not 'ignoring the facts'. That may not be the correct definition, so for that, soz. Ironic error, considering the subject.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

The only true good is knowledge and the only true evil is ignorance.

I did not know where the Mausoleum was until a few days ago (Halicarnassus).

 

[Choppaduel]

2. What is your view of ignorance and responsibility?

Igorance is ignoring reality. Theres empirical evidence & reason for(against) X, but I don't(do) believe X.

Responsiblity, in this case, is your duty to further your understanding of the universe.

OP I think you may be mixing terms. Ignorance is quite different from inexperience.

EDIT:
OK so apparently, they are the same thing ignorance and inexperience. Ignorance is defined as the state of being unaware.

Well fuck this definition, we already have a word for that, its "unaware."

I choose to define ignorance to be what I originally thought it to be, for I do not know of a word that encapsulates the described concept.

 

[Giest4life]

Ignorance is in the eye of the beholder--as is Knowledge.

That kinda sums it up.

 

[theComposer]

While freaking out and calling someone a retard is a bit of an overreaction, there are some things that are very obvious and simple, and knowing these just indicates a lack of observation or attention to the world. Be aware, I define common knowledge as things that are beaten into your head in elementary and middle school and things that are obvious if you are aware of the world around you. For example, everyone should know that astronauts go to space, but knowing the name of a Rolling Stones song falls under pop-culture trivia (albeit very easy trivia).

 

[emeraldrafael]

1. Have you ever found yourself completely ignorant of some fact everyone else knows?
Why Rap was so damn popular

2. What is your view of ignorance and responsibility?
My view is that you shouldnt punish it... the first time. But if its persistent and hte person doesnt have a mental handicap or disease, then I think you should negatively reinforce it.

 

[Infinatex]

If it is your responsibility to know something then ignorance is inexcusable. If on the other had the subject will never effect you then you probably don't need to know.

For example: I know next to nothing about mathematics. Sure I can do basic stuff but I have never needed anything more than that, so my ignorance to the more advanced stuff is not a problem. If however, those x, y, z graph thingys (here I am showing my ignorance ) became a major part of what I do, then my not knowing about them would become an issue.

 

[guntotingtomcat]

OP I think you may be mixing terms. Ignorance is quite different from inexperience.

Spoiler

Yeah, I just realised. Ironic, considering my massive spiel. Don't tell anyone else on the thread

 

[UberNoodle]

There are no stupid questions. Anybody who sets themselves up as a gatekeeper of knowledge is obviously somebody insecure with something to prove. Clearly there is always a time when don't know something. We ask a question and the we do. Somebody who asks a "stupid question" or an "ignorant questions" may very well know things that other people do not know. After those other people therefore also stupid and ignorant? Seeking knowledge should never be punished or people will be too affraid to ask.

 

[Aulleas123]

1.) Yes, I don't know much about cars except they get me from point A to point B and to repair them is a *****. I can't tell you which part does what or which brand is better or who makes the best and most durable cars. I just don't know and I just don't care.

2.) Ignorance is not just the lack of knowledge, it's the lack of respect for the field of knowledge. For example, Creationists (sorry to pick on you out there but this is a decent example) have a fairly ignorant view of the theory of evolution. They will use intelligent design and attempt to find loop holes in the scientific theory of evolution without really understanding what evolution is. They don't really attempt to learn about evolution because it doesn't fit with their schema. The same can be said of many political viewpoints, which leads to a major problem...

Since both sides of a debate have been forced to study their side of an issue, they have both worked toward a point where they can site both the pros and cons of their argument as well as the pros and cons of their counter-argument. However, in midst of a debate, one side might come across a factoid that challenges the others' side to a point where they really cannot answer for that point and are forced to concede on that point while still holding their belief. THIS is NOT Ignorance. The various sides have discussed their viewpoints and hold onto their beliefs. The fact that they have knowledge about their beliefs shows that they are not ignorant, even if single little factoids cannot be explained.

Ignorance is not the opposition of Omnipotence, it simply is the attitude of learning about a particular subject.

 

[TeeBs]

I would like to say that just because a country is Socialist or Communist, doesn't mean they try to derpify there entire population.

Ignorance that harms no one such as factoids, but social ignorance such as racism is perfectly find to chastise.

 

[Psycho Cat Industries]

Ignorance is but a lack of attention or understanding from a lack of open mindedness is it not?
I would never really call it stupidity so much as immaturity.Really though,ignorance is bliss

 

[Ace of Spades]

I've been a victim of this on several occasions throughout my life, but one in particular stands out to me. I am an absolute social retard when it comes to dating and relationships, which got the point that a few of my colleagues criticized me for not believing that a girl liked me after she stole my glasses right off of my face. Apparently, this was supposed to be a desperate ploy to capture my attention because it would require me to focus on her, and therefore meant she liked me, while in my head, it sounded more like "You are attempting to rob me of my vision out of some sadistic desire to see me suffer". One of my female friends actually gave me a crash course on the ins and outs of flirting to try and remedy my hopeless lack of knowledge. Perhaps I take an overly logical view of things, but I find it difficult to understand a concept I have no experience with and until that point no one had bothered to explain.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

"Ignorance is Bliss!"-BF!

 

[Super Toast]

If someone isn't mentally challenged, but doesn't know where The Pope lives, they deserve to be mocked.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

We are all ignorant in one way or another. The aim should be to inform both yourself and others. Spread your knowledge, and be receptive to others'. Attacking or stigmatizing someone for being ignorant or misinformed provides absolutely no benefit, it doesn't address the problem. People don't learn from being yelled at and insulted, that's what drives them away to... well... ignorance.

 

[spartan231490]

Why do we punish ignorance?
You know the scenario. You say "Sorry, where did the astronauts go?" or "Who got nuclear bombed in world war two?" or "Where does the Pope live?"
Basically, we have all been in the situation, or we know someone who has been in the situation, where there is a catastrophic common knowledge failure.
Every time I've seen this happen, people aren't just surprised, they're annoyed, to the point of being hostile. "How can you go through life and not know that!?" they say. "What is wrong with you!?", "Go read a book!" or "You're a retard!"
This peeves me. After all, we don't control what information we are exposed to in our lives. If we're ignorant, is it not the fault of our parents/teachers/circle of friends?
I would argue, though, as we live in a democracy (most of us) that we have a responsibility to make ourselves as intelligent as possible, to the best of our ability. If the population is smart, they'll probably pick the best leader. If the population is not so smart, they'll merely pick the most charismatic leader.
Surely we are allowed to not know the odd commonly known fact, however. For me, I didn't know that Britney Spears was American. And I can't name a single Rolling Stones song.

Anyway, I have two questions for you, to answer at your leisure.
1. Have you ever found yourself completely ignorant of some fact everyone else knows?
2. What is your view of ignorance and responsibility?

We do control the information we are exposed to. You're sitting in front of an easy way to access any almost any piece of information. We can also choose to read books or watch discovery channel ect.
you are allowed to know or not know whatever you please, but the people around you are also allowed to react to that in whatever way they choose.
Also, ignorance is not stupidity. Stupidity is a lack of reasoning ability and inborn(for the most part), ignorance is a lack of knowledge which is a choice. Smart would indicate intelligence, or an abundance of reasoning skills, not wisdom, which is the opposite of ignorance.
Also, most political differences are matters of opinion and emotion, not reason. Also, Many politicians not only mislead the public about thier beliefs and intentions, but outright lie. therefore being "smart" as a country, it doesn't guarentee that we will pick the proper leader, or even agree on who is the best.

 

[Something Amyss]

Why do we punish ignorance?

A better question is, "why don't we punish ignorance more?"

In the states, we've gone so far around the populist bend that the likes of Sarah Palin are not only rewarded, but becoming more common.

Ignorance "punished" in this way is awesome. In a couple generations, shoelaces will be too complicated for the general population.

 

[Capt. Crankypants]

The only true good is knowledge and the only true evil is ignorance.

I did not know where the Mausoleum was until a few days ago (Halicarnassus).

I wouldn't call you out on something like that, I'd wager a lot of people who aren't big on history (or Civilization, hehe) wouldn't know where the Mausoleum of Mausolus was.

Strange thing is, there's a LOT I know in certain areas, ones I place a lot of value upon, and there's a LOT that I don't know in other areas that other people could call me ignorant for. Pop culture, television, bands, movies/actors/entertainment, etc. But that's just because I don't place knowledge of those areas in high importance.

My areas of knowledge, and the ones I value more in a person, tend to lean towards history, geography, global and local politics... some science I guess...........and Football

So, unless someone is REALLY doughey, and refuses to learn much of anything, I won't be too quick to loathe them for it. They just have different priorities.

English is a bugbear of mine though. I loathe people who can't use 'there, their and they're', 'were, where and we're', and don't know where apostrophes go... -.-

 

[guntotingtomcat]

We do control the information we are exposed to. You're sitting in front of an easy way to access any almost any piece of information. We can also choose to read books or watch discovery channel ect.
you are allowed to know or not know whatever you please, but the people around you are also allowed to react to that in whatever way they choose.
Also, ignorance is not stupidity. Stupidity is a lack of reasoning ability and inborn(for the most part), ignorance is a lack of knowledge which is a choice. Smart would indicate intelligence, or an abundance of reasoning skills, not wisdom, which is the opposite of ignorance.
Also, most political differences are matters of opinion and emotion, not reason. Also, Many politicians not only mislead the public about thier beliefs and intentions, but outright lie. therefore being "smart" as a country, it doesn't guarentee that we will pick the proper leader, or even agree on who is the best.

To your first, I agree we can learn as much as we can, but we cannot know everything, and if we are unaware of what is considered 'common knowledge' then we do not know what it is that we are expected to know. You can choose to learn, sure. Is the stuff we are unable to learn, or the stuff we didn't quite get to yet, really our responsibility?

To your second, I'm not going to answer because I said "probably pick the best", not "definately".