You Sir, Are An Ignoramus!

*long nonsensical post + swearing.

"Where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise". (From the poem by Thomas Gray 1742).

I was in a popular supermarket today getting ID'd for cigarettes by a suspicious lady that I've seen every other day, who I suspect has selective amnesia, or is very slowly trying to memorise the serial number on my driving license for some sort of sophisticated monetary scheme. As I fumbled with my wallet, my friend Tom walked in wearing a fedora and a too baggy T-shirt featuring last year's novelty act, PSY (of gangnam style).

Me; "Isn't that whole gangnam style craze getting a bit old now".

Tom; "No, the chicks still love it".

Me; "Isn't the word 'chicks' getting a bit old now?"

Tom; "You know you've got gangnam style on your iPod."

Me; "Nope, I'm guessing his popularity will die out soon. Especially since all of that anti american crap came out".

Tom; "What anti american crap?".

Me; "Apparently he used to write anti american songs in response to the war in Iraq. 'kill those fucking yankees' or something".

Tom; "Liar".

Me; "Isn't your girl part american? Wasn't her grandad some sort of military douche?"

Tom; "I'm going to change."

Me; "I have a goonies shirt somewhere."

Tom; "Why'd you have to tell me all that crap, I paid £19.99 for this shirt."

Me; "It's just a shirt, I doubt anyone reads into PSY's political views. But next time I'll let you revel in your ignorance".

Tom; "Ignorance is bliss".

Me; "Is it?..."

I wonder. I've always thought people should seek answers to their questions, assuming they have any questions to begin with. But I admit their are some instances where being unaware has it's advantages.

For example, growing up I've always had a distaste for gossip. I don't want to know who's cheating on their boyfriend, or who finds who annoying, or who is saying things about me behind my back. Mostly because I don't care, but also because sometimes not being in the know saves a lot of unnecessary drama...and I hate drama, unless it's televised, american, and completely irrational.

But of course, there are hundreds of reasons why ignorance is not so bliss. Like when you have an important class, but decide to skip it and borrow notes from that hot French student who never misses a day, before realising her notes are illegible...And in French!... And you inevitably end up looking like a prat when questioned about it (never happened to me).

J Walters has a simple answer to the question of whether ignorance is bliss. He states that ignorance is not bliss...as educated and intelligent people tend to have better jobs earning them higher incomes which allows them to live better lifestyles, therefore making them happier people who own porsches and Bose music systems (other music systems are available).

^ That sounds fair enough, but the problem for me is the definition of "ignorance". Ignorance is generally understood to mean "being uneducated or lacking knowledge".

To me, being uneducated does not equate to lack of "intelligence". In fact in most cases, intelligence has nothing to do with it. A highly educated man can still be an ignorant bigot. Just as an ignorant bigoted racist can graduate from one of the best universities in the world (true story).

Ignorance is lack of knowledge...Not intelligence.

Recently I was dragged into a situation involving two people who I know. Person X was cheating on person Y and I became aware of this. As soon as I became aware I wanted to cease ties with both of them and run away like a little girl...But I didn't (I should have).

Having known both X & Y for the same amount of time, I suggested person X come clean about their indiscretions. I gave X three days to do this.

And of course when the shit eventually hit the fan a 'week later', I was damned by X for forcing a confession, and I was damned by Y for not saying anything.

I remember for the briefest moment before the ungracious, saliva spewing, verbal damning was rained on me, thinking "things were better when we we're just dumb kids". Before relationships, sex, morality and responsibility, ignorance as a child truly is bliss.

When I was a child I remember looking out of my window after school and on the weekends, tiptoeing in my LA Gear flashing trainers with my fingers gripping the damp window sill waiting for my father to come by. I would stand for hours and he would never show up, but I didn't mind because he was working...or doing something else important, I was disappointed but still content because (in my mind) he would show up eventually.

But hours became days, and days became weeks, months and years. And when I finally asked and was told that he wasn't coming...I wished I had just been left to revel in my sad, but blissful ignorance.

But for me the question runs deeper. During my studies and as I entered the tumultuous world of adulthood, I began to seek answers to questions I never would have normally asked. I was shown how the law works, how injustice is justified and the arguable truth about inequality. I began to question everything from my then religious beliefs, to my whole existence at a time when my main concerns were what I would be having for dinner. Unsurprisingly I would search for answers often only coming up with more questions. And rarely, I would find answers to questions I would later wish I had never asked.

Which brings me back to Gray's poem, essentially a reminiscent look at the carefree bliss of youth, a time where our minds are free from the complex realities of adult life, free from the burden of unwanted knowledge. But...as many people have often told me ''knowledge is power''. Were they wrong? No... But they failed to add what was written in Ecclesiastes 1:18 long ago ''With much wisdom comes much grief'' or in other words

"with knowledge comes sorrow''.