Does anyone else feel like the more they learn about fucked up history and current events the more we have to worry about? The older I get, and as I learn about history, the more things I have to think about that keep me up at night. Maybe ignorance is bliss after all?
EDIT: I should have mentioned originally that I’m a person that is hyper vigilant (on the spectrum) and can’t not notice things. I notice every little detail of everything I see. Why is the guy at the grocery store blocking the entire aisle and is completely oblivious that people can’t get by? Why did that person turn without a turn signal? I notice people’s body language. I meticulously pick apart things that people say and extract meaning that I’m sure they never intended. I originally thought it was OCD, but I don’t have any of those traditional trappings. I wish I could just turn it off, as it’s exhausting.
This essentially sums up how I go through my day. I wish I could not know/notice things: https://youtu.be/dmbtt3iGXzg
It is bliss, and I almost wish I was ignorant enough not to care. But I’m glad I’m not so I can help enact change. Well at least try to…
Edit: overall the world would be a much better place if people were less ignorant. I’m just so tired of feeling helpless.
No. In fact the world would be a better place if more people actually knew what was going on and then maybe feel inclined to do something about it. Knowledge is power and right now, in a lot of places, knowledge is being suppressed as ignorant masses are easier to control and manipulate.
No.
Ignorance is bliss, but it also means you’re not seeing the world clearly
Which is probably fine if you only care about yourself, but it means you’re going to have warped views. Views that will hurt other people
But I’m so tired of caring for other people. I just want like a month where everything is fine and okay and nobody is being hurt and I can just breathe without feeling bad about being selfish. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? just a little bit of world peace. Just for me :'(
Edit: asking as someone who lives on the verge of burnout because I do way too much community organizing and volunteering.
I get that… As someone who has been thoroughly burnt out, I give what I can when I can, and when the affect on others is greater than the cost to me
Self care isn’t being selfish. The world will barely notice if you took a month off. You can shut off the news, you can decide not to pick up the phone. There will always be problems to solve and more people who need help
You have to help the people within your reach first, not because they’re more important, but because they’re within your reach. You can do more for a single person nearby than many people far away. You can do more to improve the community around you than you can for the people in Gaza. It doesn’t matter if the people far away need it more, you just have more leverage within your reach than beyond your fingertips
And that includes you. You have to be a person who helps others. A person with a clear heart, who can help others without being tainted by the badness of the world yourself or so used up you stop feeling
When you have less to give, narrow your scope. If you need a month to regain the energy and joy of helping others, take it. Don’t be selfish or shut out the suffering of others, just focus on helping yourself and those right in front of you. Invest in the good you will do in the future
If I ever have the opportunity, I’d like to run a retreat for people like you. A place in nature, surrounded by good people who need a refuge from the world for a while. A place where problems are simple and direct, like rain is coming and we need to bring things inside, or someone is in distress and needs comfort
I’m not in a place to offer that, but I urge you to take the time and try to find some time and peace for yourself to recover. Burning yourself out would be worse for everyone than whatever problems your temporary absence brings
Ignorance of the ignorable is bliss. Ignorance of the intrusive adds terror to injury. It’s an amplifier. In other words, if it doesn’t affect you personally, being able to ignore it makes it not part if your reality and unable to cause suffering. If it does affect you personally, you not only experience the problem but the terror of not understanding the problem.
I’m gonna remember this
“ignorance of the ignorable is bliss”
Very well put.
Ignorance is bliss because the cause of all suffering is desire.
It doesn’t mean there is no harm in ignorance, but I think it’s important people don’t just panic wildly. That’s just as useless as being ignorant but it feels worse.
instead of fretting about the things you can’t change, care about the things you can. help your neighbor, cook your own food, by local, don’t use ai, switch to Linux, don’t be racist or homophob.
would go a long way if people would do that instead of whining about what’s happening on the world stage
It almost feels like I am being aged by knowledge and experience more than I am by biological decay.
Nah, fuck this tbh.
Ignorance absolutely is bliss. However, it also comes with some downsides.
One being easily abused, especially en masse.
How has your lack of ignorance prevented any.of that?
It’s a network effect, you need collective understanding for things like unions to exist
Im more worried about the present and the future. What concerns me is when we are not trying to get better or even glorify worse.
Ignorance is ignorance.
I don’t know that that’s true
Shove that blue crayon up my nose!
Extended warranty? How can I lose!
Literally just finished watching that episode🤣
1930s German Citizen ass response
Also it just feels antithetical to (my?) idea of showerthoughts to just be like, Shall I ponder this nebulous and complex issue? Naaah
The first fascist you have to defeat is the little one in your hand maaaan
You might enjoy the song “To Know the Unknown” by Innosense.
fair
