Ignorance is bliss?

[mvansand76]

I read this quote from Jake today, he said this in an interview about his new movie, Rendition.

"I get about 15 emails a day from my mother. And each one has links to all these political blogs she thinks I should check out. What I really liked about this script (Rendition), and what I really admired about Gavin (Hood, Rendition's South African-born director) is that politics is secondary to the human story. And as an actor I'm always interested in the human side of politics. The thing about this movie is that everybody believes they're acting out of the best intentions. They all think they're doing some kind of good. And they're all acting on what they've been told. But who's to say what you're being told is the truth? I think people question whether they're being told the truth in situations like this. And who can blame them? Even worse, a lot of people have even lost the want for the truth. I heard somebody say recently that people actually prefer ignorance. I know I do a lot of the time. The truth can be painful."

What do you think? Do you prefer ignorance? Have you lost the "want for truth"?

[David In Indy]

I would rather hear the truth. The truth can be very painful, just as Jake said, but the pain goes away sonner or later and we are more informed. I'm also very impressed by the way Jake is thinking through things like this. I often get the impression many actors couldn't give a shit, and obviously Jake cares. 

[moremojo]

I prefer truth over ignorance, even if the price for truth is more pain. I can understand people's impulse to remain in ignorance, thereby thinking they are avoiding pain, but I honor and respect the pursuit of truth much more.

[notBastet]

hmnnn...

deep question...

if I sometimes feel I can't be bothered to know 'the truth' about everything, what kind of person does that make me?

here's one for you: does 'the truth' really exist or is it merely an illusion?

In all honesty, I think I probably feel like it has become impossible to know 'the truth' in some situations... so maybe I prefer ignorance in those situations, though I am ashamed to admit it... 

Politics is hard for me - to really get a grasp on it, I sorta feel like I would have to devote my life to it, and I ain't doing that...

what's the line in the declaration of indepence: "We hold these _____ to be ____"  is there something about truth in there, or am I misremembering?

I feel like I know the truth about some things, and not others, and some stuff I want to know the truth about that, and some stuff the truth is less important...

 

'kay, I'll stop blabbering now.

[Kerry]

"I heard somebody say recently that people actually prefer ignorance. I know I do a lot of the time. The truth can be painful."

I'm with Jake on this one. For me, personally, ignorance is bliss. I retreat from unpleasantness in all its forms, particularly when aggression and confrontation are involved. Can't cope with it. Never could.

One of my favourite quotes (forget who originally said it) is, "It is better to dream one's life than to live it."

[injest]

the problem is that 'truth' is subjective sometimes.

and then sometimes the truth is hidden and we don't have the resources to determine what really is the truth.

Think about Iraq. Some people say we are winning. Others say we are losing...some say the Iraqis want us there...others say they want us out...

how can you know what is the truth? and maybe they are both true...

[David In Indy]

the problem is that 'truth' is subjective sometimes.

and then sometimes the truth is hidden and we don't have the resources to determine what really is the truth.

Think about Iraq. Some people say we are winning. Others say we are losing...some say the Iraqis want us there...others say they want us out...

how can you know what is the truth? and maybe they are both true...

I have found that most people will believe just about anything, especially if it's something they want to hear. And therein lies the problem. It's all about perception. If you tell me my Honda is really a Boeing 747, and if I WANT to believe it is a Boeing 747, I will convince myself what you just told me is accurate and the truth. Okay. That's a bit extreme, but you get the idea.

Look at those weight loss ads on television. If you watch them closely, you will see a little message, very small and very faint which reads "results not typical" and a bunch of fine print too small to read even with a molecular microscope. But we all know what it says. Basically it says "This is a bunch of crap and you're a big blithering fool if you buy it", but people buy it anyway. They pop those pills and drink those shakes and spend hundreds of dollars doing it. And they think to themselves "Oh, isn't this stuff wonderful! It really works!" not realizing that the whole time they are doing this, they are also eating sensibly and exercising frequently. So, what really caused their weight loss? Those magic milk shakes? No! They lost weight because they started doing something they should have been doing all along: eating healthy meals and exercising. But they were told it was because of those pills and milkshakes, and in their minds it is the TRUTH. But if you try to tell them otherwise, they will lambast you with an entire litany of reasons why you are wrong.

Some people will tell you there is a God. Others will tell you the whole thing is a fairy tale. So what's the truth? It all depends on what you believe. If you believe it, it is the truth. If not, it's a lie. It's all about perception.

[moremojo]

what's the line in the declaration of indepence: "We hold these _____ to be ____"  is there something about truth in there, or am I misremembering?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident..."

In the Gospels, Pontius Pilate asks Jesus at one point (perhaps rhetorically) "What is truth?", to which no reply is recorded. Truth is an elusive entity, but I do believe an objective truth exists, which we will probably never fully grasp in this life. It remains a worthwhile pursuit, though, and is one of the goals that can invest life with meaning and purpose.

[Shakesthecoffecan]

Ignorance is bliss, but we never know to enjoy it.

The truth is often painful, but it is inevitable. Gemme the truth, before it goes on any longer and therefore more painful to take.

[opinionista]

This topic reminds me of my grandmother. My grandma suffers from short term memory loss as a result of old age. She's 95 years old. When my grandfather died, we gave her the news. She cried for one second, then forgot all about it and went about her business. Then we took her to the funerary home because we thought it was the right thing and that she would like to be there. It was her husband after all. When she saw my grandpa in the coffin, she would cry unconsolably, but then we would take out of the room, to the cafeteria or something, and she was happy talking about her usual stuff, though she would ask from time to time who died. My dad ended up deciding to left her at home with my aunt because there was no point in having her there. Up to this day she thinks my grandpa is out at the store, or visiting the next door neighbor. It is sad for us to see that but at the same time we are relieved that she is not suffering. So I suppose in certain situations, ignorance is bliss. But her memory has worsened and now she doesn't remember half of the family, except my dad and my aunt that are often with her.