Ignorance is bliss

[thecrecarc]

I was having a discussion with my friend today, with him believing that the world would be better if people in the poorer countries did not know about the existence of "better" counties and that we should leave them be. He reasons that if they see everyone else starving they would see its norm and be content where they are. If they hear about the "better" countries with plentiful food and electricity, they would not be content with their life.

I try to say that if they know about the better countries they could try for change and a revolution, and improve the condition. However, he says the next generation that always lived in this "better" condition would then think its the norm and when they hear of even better countries they will not be happy again. And a circle will continue. I really dont know how to reply to this.

So, im wondering, is ignorance really bliss?

 

[Aikouka]

Yes, because it's impossible to be compare something if you have nothing to compare it with.

 

[Aimster]

It's sad that people in this world are starving and nations are spending billions on military and skyscrapers.

 

[Toonces]

ignorance is strength

 

[Fritzo]

I'm very blissful.

 

[yhelothar]

I don't think it works that way.
They need to actually experience our lifestyle in order to really feel torturous about theirs.
It's like, we know about billionaires, and the kind of luxuries and lifestyles they could have with their kind of wealth, but I don't think knowing such things really makes your life much worse.
But on the other hand, if you were actually give a few years to give like a king, and then you had to revert back... THAT would be painful.

 

[hiromizu]

I think you're on to something here... say say say!

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Aimster
It's sad that people in this world are starving and nations are spending billions on military and skyscrapers.

It's sad that there are people starving, yeah.

 

[thecrecarc]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Aimster
It's sad that people in this world are starving and nations are spending billions on military and skyscrapers.

It's sad that there are people starving, yeah.

Would you rather be starving and know about countries with plentiful food, or be starving without knowing about the countries and think everyone is starving?

 

[SlickSnake]

Interesting.

I am not sure it is all about ignorance being blissful in this example, though. Look at the rampaging native Africans who are killing off all the non natives in Africa. They are creating a worse condition for themselves by destroying farms, ranches, industries and social services that were gradually helping them out of their misery. And the result is they are only making their situation way more dire and desperate than it was to start with. Is it better to have food or starve, or have medical care or die? Their so called cultural revolutions are only leading to their own future genocide. When they systematically destroy all the various African countries infrastructures, not even the peace corps or the UN can intervene to protect their own people from themselves. It is true they have seen their share of social problems with ruling classes who are not indigenous to the areas they are pillaging, however we are talking about hundreds of years of overall raised standards of living they are simply destroying in the process with their so-called cultural revolutions. And they are doing this in spite of the fact that they are fully aware this is only going to make things worse for them in the long run. So the knowledge and awareness of improved standards of living there and elsewhere is not stopping their own suicidal social destruction. They might be jealous of other countries higher standards of living, but the violent path back to the stone age will not get them there.

Now, if you compare this idea with some tribal village actually in the stone age who see actual improvements in living standards for the first time, of course they will embrace a metal cook pot over some clay cookware that breaks and they have to remake continuously. Would they start a revolution at some point to go back to clay cookware? Which makes me wonder why so many seemingly modernized Africans would apparently prefer a stone age existence over modern improvements that make living more comfortable. It is not a cultural revolution when you fall backwards instead of forwards.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Just because someone is poor doesn't mean their life isn't good. It's when they lack the basic necessities to live such as shelter, clothes, and nutrition that there's a problem.

Folks with restricted caloric intake actually live longer than folks tha eat whatever and whatever they please. (think 110 year old chinese guys that still do martial arts)

They would be better off if they focus on supporting themselves and don't look anywhere else because the grass is always greener.

 

[thecrecarc]

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Now, if you compare this idea with some tribal village actually in the stone age who see actual improvements in living standards for the first time, of course they will embrace a metal cook pot over some clay cookware that breaks and they have to remake continuously. Would they start a revolution at some point to go back to clay cookware? Which makes me wonder why so many seemingly modernized Africans would apparently prefer a stone age existence over modern improvements that make living more comfortable. It is not a cultural revolution when you fall backwards instead of forwards.

True, but they were just as happy when they did not know about metal cookware weren't they? Now they will have conflict over the new metal pots, that just awhile ago they did not even know existed and thus could not affect their quiet life.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Now, if you compare this idea with some tribal village actually in the stone age who see actual improvements in living standards for the first time, of course they will embrace a metal cook pot over some clay cookware that breaks and they have to remake continuously. Would they start a revolution at some point to go back to clay cookware? Which makes me wonder why so many seemingly modernized Africans would apparently prefer a stone age existence over modern improvements that make living more comfortable. It is not a cultural revolution when you fall backwards instead of forwards.

True, but they were just as happy when they did not know about metal cookware weren't they? Now they will have conflict over the new metal pots, that just awhile ago they did not even know existed and thus could not affect their quiet life.

That assumes an inadequate supply of the metal pots or that they would not fight over something else that is scarce anyway.

 

[YoungGun21]

Originally posted by: toonces
ignorance is strength

1984 FTW

 

[thecrecarc]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Now, if you compare this idea with some tribal village actually in the stone age who see actual improvements in living standards for the first time, of course they will embrace a metal cook pot over some clay cookware that breaks and they have to remake continuously. Would they start a revolution at some point to go back to clay cookware? Which makes me wonder why so many seemingly modernized Africans would apparently prefer a stone age existence over modern improvements that make living more comfortable. It is not a cultural revolution when you fall backwards instead of forwards.

True, but they were just as happy when they did not know about metal cookware weren't they? Now they will have conflict over the new metal pots, that just awhile ago they did not even know existed and thus could not affect their quiet life.

That assumes an inadequate supply of the metal pots or that they would not fight over something else that is scarce anyway.

Well we are talking about metal pots here. If it was something like abundant food supply, electricity, democracy, or something harder to get, won't it make them dislike their current life compared to the "better" lifestyle?

 

[Coquito]

:music:
When Jesus saw the pain
Of the things done in his name
He packed his suitcase and his golf clubs
Filled his pockets full of grain

He said "To hell with all of this"
Then he blew a farewell kiss
To be all knowing is quite stressful
While ignorance is bliss

Ignorance is bliss

Straight from the video store
Billy's marching off to war
I heard they called our Lady Liberty
a greasy little whore
Well the market's on the boil
We're down a couple quarts of oil
And the President's reacting
Like an old near-sighted mohel

I'll see you on the other side
As our heads implode from blind pride
Try to remember these words:
Ignorance is bliss

Ignorance is bliss

Ignorance is bliss

Try to remember this:
Ignorance is bliss
:music:

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Now, if you compare this idea with some tribal village actually in the stone age who see actual improvements in living standards for the first time, of course they will embrace a metal cook pot over some clay cookware that breaks and they have to remake continuously. Would they start a revolution at some point to go back to clay cookware? Which makes me wonder why so many seemingly modernized Africans would apparently prefer a stone age existence over modern improvements that make living more comfortable. It is not a cultural revolution when you fall backwards instead of forwards.

True, but they were just as happy when they did not know about metal cookware weren't they? Now they will have conflict over the new metal pots, that just awhile ago they did not even know existed and thus could not affect their quiet life.

That assumes an inadequate supply of the metal pots or that they would not fight over something else that is scarce anyway.

Well we are talking about metal pots here. If it was something like abundant food supply, electricity, democracy, or something harder to get, won't it make them dislike their current life compared to the "better" lifestyle?

Possibly though not necessarily, it could well provide motivation to improve their situation if that was desired. People have fought over pretty much everything at one point or another since the rise of our species. We have only really changed how and what we compete for.

 

[Rogodin2]

Discus peak oil and the potential nuclear disaster that our country is facing in it's middle years.

You've discussed nothing of relevance.

Rogo

 

[thecrecarc]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Now, if you compare this idea with some tribal village actually in the stone age who see actual improvements in living standards for the first time, of course they will embrace a metal cook pot over some clay cookware that breaks and they have to remake continuously. Would they start a revolution at some point to go back to clay cookware? Which makes me wonder why so many seemingly modernized Africans would apparently prefer a stone age existence over modern improvements that make living more comfortable. It is not a cultural revolution when you fall backwards instead of forwards.

True, but they were just as happy when they did not know about metal cookware weren't they? Now they will have conflict over the new metal pots, that just awhile ago they did not even know existed and thus could not affect their quiet life.

That assumes an inadequate supply of the metal pots or that they would not fight over something else that is scarce anyway.

Well we are talking about metal pots here. If it was something like abundant food supply, electricity, democracy, or something harder to get, won't it make them dislike their current life compared to the "better" lifestyle?

Possibly though not necessarily, it could well provide motivation to improve their situation if that was desired.

That is what i said, but then again, the people that was born in the "improved" situation would not think its that improved because they never expreinced the hardships in the first place. And eventually, they will compare their life to another, even better, country and be unhappy again. That or another country will compare itself to this new country.

Rogo, stop trolling and make a new thread in P&N if your that interested.

 

[Rogodin2]

Rogo, stop trolling and make a new thread in P&N if your that interested.

This is a completely generic question that the OP is asking. I'll wager that 99% of this countries' population does not understand how their food is 'constructed' and where the energy comes from.

This fool is asking about the condition of 3rd world countries and the basic needs that the population of such a country requires to keep its population fed and housed. He then has the gaul to ask if 'ignorance is bliss'.

We have people on this forum weaping for a dog and others asking inane questions about hypothetical empirical levels of existence.

My individual response is disgust with both you and the OP.

Rogo

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Now, if you compare this idea with some tribal village actually in the stone age who see actual improvements in living standards for the first time, of course they will embrace a metal cook pot over some clay cookware that breaks and they have to remake continuously. Would they start a revolution at some point to go back to clay cookware? Which makes me wonder why so many seemingly modernized Africans would apparently prefer a stone age existence over modern improvements that make living more comfortable. It is not a cultural revolution when you fall backwards instead of forwards.

True, but they were just as happy when they did not know about metal cookware weren't they? Now they will have conflict over the new metal pots, that just awhile ago they did not even know existed and thus could not affect their quiet life.

That assumes an inadequate supply of the metal pots or that they would not fight over something else that is scarce anyway.

Well we are talking about metal pots here. If it was something like abundant food supply, electricity, democracy, or something harder to get, won't it make them dislike their current life compared to the "better" lifestyle?

Possibly though not necessarily, it could well provide motivation to improve their situation if that was desired.

That is what i said, but then again, the people that was born in the "improved" situation would not think its that improved because they never expreinced the hardships in the first place. And eventually, they will compare their life to another, even better, country and be unhappy again. That or another country will compare itself to this new country.

Rogo, stop trolling and make a new thread in P&N if your that interested.

Depending on the scale of the improvement many people generation to generation do have a pretty good idea of how vastly their lives have changed from that of their predecessors.

Personally, I'd argue that your friend's position is untenable since it is simply impossible to keep people from knowing to one degree or another what other parts of the world are like. This is especially true as technology has already shrunk the world even in what we could consider primitive nations/areas.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2

Rogo, stop trolling and make a new thread in P&N if your that interested.

This is a completely generic question that the OP is asking. I'll wager that 99% of this countries' population does not understand how there food is 'constructed' and where the energy comes from.

This fool is asking about the condition of 3rd world countries and the basic needs that the population of such a country requires to keep its population fed and in cloths. He then has the gaul to ask if 'ignorance is bliss'.

We have people on this forum weaping for a dog and others asking inane questions about hypothetical empirical levels of existence.

My individual response is disgust with both you and the OP.

Rogo

Then go make your own thread about the issues that concern you rather than crapping in this one. Pretty fucking simple.

 

[Rogodin2]

Then go make your own thread about the issues that concern you rather than crapping in this one. Pretty fucking simple.

The OP asked for a response regarding his experience and I've posted mine. What the hell is your problem?

Oh-I see that you're a lifer, and with the greatest smile of the twisted lip of irony, I salute you lad.

Rogo

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Rogodin2

Then go make your own thread about the issues that concern you rather than crapping in this one. Pretty fucking simple.

The OP asked for a response regarding his experience and I've posted mine. What the hell is your problem?

Rogo

Your posts have nothing to do with the OP. You are merely riding your own (well known) hobby horse around in this thread.

 

[thecrecarc]

Ya, I agree that the ignorance position is generally unsupportable in most cases. However, it can be achieved somewhat, for example North Korea. Would it really be good to tell those people about our lives and how much it is better than theirs? Right now they probably have no idea that they are the exception, and could think that their life is norm. Course, if anyone has insight on how North Koreans think and behave, feel free to correct me.