Posted by Michael83 on June 21, 2006, at 21:10:15
In reply to Please rephrase » Michael83, posted by gardenergirl on June 21, 2006, at 17:59:33
What I meant to say is that most people spend each day concerned mostly with trivial things.
Thinking about some material thing, or being obsessed over silly "entertainment" options like some TV show. Or what they're going to cook for diner. Things like that.
Yeah yeah I think about material things, entertainment options, and what I want to eat, but I don't spend most of my day doing so. Most of my thought is spending "thinking" about what I believe are important things. I examine people, the world, news, collect knowledge.
Tamar brought up Nietzsche. Well most people don't care about Nietzsche, or any philosophy for that matter. Most don't read books like, or books at all (at least important nonfiction books that is).
Part of what I'm saying is that most people are intellectually lazy.
Most people care more about some game show (I'm using this as an example as something trivial, I know most people don't watch game shows on a regular basis) that's on at 8, than knowledge that may expand them intellectually or benefit them in some way.
I remember when I was in college (in 2002/2003) I swear I spent more time in the university library reading than in the classroom. I used to stay at that library until it closed at 9 or 10 at night. I'd walk up and down the isles of non fiction books (it was a university library so it was mostly all nonfiction) and just be fascinated with all the knowledge in those books. I mean really fascinated and exciting. I'd just be in awe at all the things there were to learn. I'd sit and read for hours and hours about everything. I read everything from history books, to philosophy, to science, to even real estate and other investment books, and classics like Walden or some of Mark Twain's books. I honestly remember saying to myself, "If there's a heaven, I'm sure it's a massive library."
Most of the time I wasn't able to finish any of the books I read because by the time I got well into a book, I was like a little dog who found better chew toy to play with and couldn't resist the temptation of another book that I had found. But you still learn a lot by just opening a book and randomly reading.
I always wondered, why aren't most (or even MORE) people like this? Hardly no one reads, or even cares. But they sure watch those game shows by the millions. Yeah they're fun to watch sometimes, but I sure don't want to spend my life glued to them. I'd rather learn something important that will benefit me. (I try to only read about important things.)
Anyway, I'll go back in topic, also when I used the phrase "blissful ignorance," I was referring to heavily dogma-ized organized religion, common pop culture "cure all" phrases (two dimensional simplistic phrases or thought processes people use to explain things they could not otherwise explain.), and/or the habit of just ignoring the world without thinking about it for themselves (and focusing more on those trivial things.)
Look at some of the news shows, they always have to include some sort of simple minded drama or some hook or catch to keep people watching (think Geraldo).
I also think it's funny how the news is only 30 minutes long, but the "primetime" part of TV day is about 3 hours (chalk full of game/reality shows and sitcoms).
And even on the news, the most popular segments are the weather and sports. I couldn't possibly care less about grown men playing some game meant for children, or whether or not it will rain tomorrow (if it rains, it rains, nothing I can do about it.) I don't need a weather prediction, I'll find out the weather when it arrives.
Do I sound like Andy Rooney yet? Sorry. lol.
I did read most of the link you provided in your post, and I will keep it in mind, but most of what is said is about "reactions" to other people's posts. My post isn't a reaction to anything I read on here. I like what I read on here. People here think.
I have nothing against anyone on here. I'm not taking issue with anyone on here. In fact the opposite is true, I feel a sense of compassion for people on here because of what they go through because I deal with similar issues. I'm not point fingers are "you guys," but rather I was trying to say I'm sorta like "you guys" and I'm pointing my finger at all the shallow people (aka "them") of the world.
I know it's not right judge people, but I truly truly believe in my heart of hearts that I have a generally good read on most people I meet (in person at least). I am proven right time and time again, day after day. It's almost like I can predict the words that come out of their mouth. Most normal people are so similar it's beyond belief.
But I'm sure people on this board aren't part of "them." Most of us think and reflect (anyone can think, you don't have to be mentally quick, it's the effort that counts). Most of "them" don't think. They just live in a blur of pop culture and shiny trinkets. And when they do think, they usually come to conclusions (usually simple or trite conclusions) as quickly as possible (thinking is soooooo hard for them), just so they can revert back to their usual blurry self.
I hope that rephrases it better.
poster:Michael83
thread:658960
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060618/msgs/659938.html