Poll: To Know, or to Not Know?

[GLo Jones]

Countless times I've seen theories about life/psychology/tuna/etc attacked, their validity questioned merely due to fact they imply something we might not want to hear/know.

The fact something is not nice to know does not affect it's validity or importance in the slightest, and I was horrified to find that even exam boards would use this justification as an acceptable method to poke holes in theories (Sigmund Freud papers, I'm looking at you).

The whole 'blissful ignorance' argument is used by many people without them even realising what they're saying. You know exactly what you're saying, so do not let ignorance enter your life.

(I think that makes sense, I'm quite tired)

Spoiler: Also...

"Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?"

 

[SimuLord]

Just a thought, but...

Knowing is half the battle.

 

[Ashcrexl]

i have perfected denial in cases like these. it is very easy for me to convince myself things have worked themselves out. so i would not want to know

 

[Lilani]

I'd prefer to know, as soon as possible. I don't do negative anticipation very well. That initial sting of failure may suck, but only after you know about it can you begin to get over it.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Countless times I've seen theories about life/psychology/tuna/etc attacked, their validity questioned merely due to fact they imply something we might not want to hear/know.

The fact something is not nice to know does not affect it's validity or importance in the slightest, and I was horrified to find that even exam boards would use this justification as an acceptable method to poke holes in theories (Sigmund Freud papers, I'm looking at you).

The whole 'blissful ignorance' argument is used by many people without them even realising what they're saying. You know exactly what you're saying, so do not let ignorance enter your life.

(I think that makes sense, I'm quite tired)

Spoiler: Also...

"Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?"

I'm quite happy to see how many people prefer reality to fiction, even if it unpleasant.

Spoiler

The helicity of an electron's matter wave determines what we know as spin, hence its magnetic properties. Only two electrons may occupy a single energy level, and must have opposite spins. Paramagnetic compounds contain unpaired electrons in their higher energy orbitals, the d orbitals in particular are notorious for splitting, which gives them a net magnetic moment. There you go, that's how them fuckin' paramagnets work

 

[Lyx]

if presented a situation in which the truth can (doesn't have to be) awful, would you prefer knowing for sure, or is blissful ignorance enough for the time being?

As with so many binary polls, an option is missing, which is the one that many people actually choose: Pretend that you want to know, while actually seeking ignorance. The reason why this third option is so popular, is because your "prefer ignorance"-option lacks something: a clean conscience.

By pretending that one wants to know (or even knows), while actually seeking ignorance, one gets the perfect illusionary deal:

- illusion of agency ("I am still in control and aware")
- illusion of everything probably being fine
- illusion of responsibility ("if the bad version turns out to be true, i'm not at fault, because i tried.")

It's how you can totally fuck up, while at the same time feeling like a saint.

That's why honestly prefering ignorance isn't really that much worse than wanting to know. With honest ignorance, the first aspect (agency, honesty, being in control) and the third aspect (responsibility) is still actually intact - just the 2nd aspect is consciously kept uncertain. Precisely because the 1st and 3rd aspect is still intact, it's why consciously choosing ignorance is uncomfortable - you're still aware of not-knowing!

 

[Wildcard5]

I would rather know the truth. Also good luck studying. I need to get back to my own studies...

 

[GLo Jones]

Countless times I've seen theories about life/psychology/tuna/etc attacked, their validity questioned merely due to fact they imply something we might not want to hear/know.

The fact something is not nice to know does not affect it's validity or importance in the slightest, and I was horrified to find that even exam boards would use this justification as an acceptable method to poke holes in theories (Sigmund Freud papers, I'm looking at you).

The whole 'blissful ignorance' argument is used by many people without them even realising what they're saying. You know exactly what you're saying, so do not let ignorance enter your life.

(I think that makes sense, I'm quite tired)

Spoiler: Also...

"Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?"

I'm quite happy to see how many people prefer reality to fiction, even if it unpleasant.

Spoiler

The helicity of an electron's matter wave determines what we know as spin, hence its magnetic properties. Only two electrons may occupy a single energy level, and must have opposite spins. Paramagnetic compounds contain unpaired electrons in their higher energy orbitals, the d orbitals in particular are notorious for splitting, which gives them a net magnetic moment. There you go, that's how them fuckin' paramagnets work

Oh dear, I wasn't expecting an explanation, I was merely referencing the ignorance of the 'Insane Clown Posse' [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/oct/09/insane-clown-posse-christians-god], now I have to concentrate!

 

[SadisticPretzel]

For me, it depends on the situation. There are some things that I'm perfectly content to hide from and some things that it will just drive me batshit.

 

[Chiyo-Chan]

You can't change the truth by not knowing. In order to correct mistakes, one must know the truth.

 

[Hashime]

Here's the story: I may have failed one of my classes, but the final grades haven't been posted yet. The lack of certainty is starting to drive me insane, yet it raises an interesting question. If I don't know the final grades yet, I can pretend everything is alright. Living in uncertainty can be acceptable at times, I suppose, but I can't live with it in the long term. Still, I am interested in what other people would choose: if presented a situation in which the truth can (doesn't have to be) awful, would you prefer knowing for sure, or is blissful ignorance enough for the time being?

Funny story, I am about to fail Calc 1, yay! As long as it is the only course I fail I will not be turfed.

Ah, don't worry too much about calc1, unless you are a math major. One of my TAs had to repeat it (or was it difeq? don't remember) twice, and he still managed to get his PhD in inorganic chemistry a few months ago.
So...found out I didn't fail. Still, the wait was excruciating. There is nothing worse than taking an exam while wondering whether the previous exam was responsible for costing you your degree and/or grad school admission.

Update, just got back from the exam, I failed horribly. I have to go talk to the first year office and make a good case as to why I should not be turfed from the program.

 

[yellingatpixels]

Find out. If it's bad news you can't change it but you can make plans.

 

[yellingatpixels]

Here's the story: I may have failed one of my classes, but the final grades haven't been posted yet. The lack of certainty is starting to drive me insane, yet it raises an interesting question. If I don't know the final grades yet, I can pretend everything is alright. Living in uncertainty can be acceptable at times, I suppose, but I can't live with it in the long term. Still, I am interested in what other people would choose: if presented a situation in which the truth can (doesn't have to be) awful, would you prefer knowing for sure, or is blissful ignorance enough for the time being?

Funny story, I am about to fail Calc 1, yay! As long as it is the only course I fail I will not be turfed.

Ah, don't worry too much about calc1, unless you are a math major. One of my TAs had to repeat it (or was it difeq? don't remember) twice, and he still managed to get his PhD in inorganic chemistry a few months ago.
So...found out I didn't fail. Still, the wait was excruciating. There is nothing worse than taking an exam while wondering whether the previous exam was responsible for costing you your degree and/or grad school admission.

Update, just got back from the exam, I failed horribly. I have to go talk to the first year office and make a good case as to why I should not be turfed from the program.

dude, that sucks. Sometimes Calc is the weeder course. Come up with a good argument and let us know how it goes.

 

[Hashime]

Here's the story: I may have failed one of my classes, but the final grades haven't been posted yet. The lack of certainty is starting to drive me insane, yet it raises an interesting question. If I don't know the final grades yet, I can pretend everything is alright. Living in uncertainty can be acceptable at times, I suppose, but I can't live with it in the long term. Still, I am interested in what other people would choose: if presented a situation in which the truth can (doesn't have to be) awful, would you prefer knowing for sure, or is blissful ignorance enough for the time being?

Funny story, I am about to fail Calc 1, yay! As long as it is the only course I fail I will not be turfed.

Ah, don't worry too much about calc1, unless you are a math major. One of my TAs had to repeat it (or was it difeq? don't remember) twice, and he still managed to get his PhD in inorganic chemistry a few months ago.
So...found out I didn't fail. Still, the wait was excruciating. There is nothing worse than taking an exam while wondering whether the previous exam was responsible for costing you your degree and/or grad school admission.

Update, just got back from the exam, I failed horribly. I have to go talk to the first year office and make a good case as to why I should not be turfed from the program.

dude, that sucks. Sometimes Calc is the weeder course. Come up with a good argument and let us know how it goes.

It is more like due to sleep issues I my cognitive function and memory are messed up. I do not remember most of what happened this last term as a result.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Here's the story: I may have failed one of my classes, but the final grades haven't been posted yet. The lack of certainty is starting to drive me insane, yet it raises an interesting question. If I don't know the final grades yet, I can pretend everything is alright. Living in uncertainty can be acceptable at times, I suppose, but I can't live with it in the long term. Still, I am interested in what other people would choose: if presented a situation in which the truth can (doesn't have to be) awful, would you prefer knowing for sure, or is blissful ignorance enough for the time being?

Funny story, I am about to fail Calc 1, yay! As long as it is the only course I fail I will not be turfed.

Ah, don't worry too much about calc1, unless you are a math major. One of my TAs had to repeat it (or was it difeq? don't remember) twice, and he still managed to get his PhD in inorganic chemistry a few months ago.
So...found out I didn't fail. Still, the wait was excruciating. There is nothing worse than taking an exam while wondering whether the previous exam was responsible for costing you your degree and/or grad school admission.

Update, just got back from the exam, I failed horribly. I have to go talk to the first year office and make a good case as to why I should not be turfed from the program.

I'm truly sorry to hear that. Look, if you need somebody to help with math stuff, ask. I may not be the best guy for pure math (discrete, real analysis, stochastic, etc), but I am pretty good at the applied bits like calculus.
Anyway, best of luck to you! It's gonna work out, just explain that calculus is not your thing. It is a weed-out course after all...

 

[smithy_2045]

I hate not knowing.