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Posted

Ignorance, apathy, and irresponsibility

 

I claim that the citizens of the US (and probably most other Western style democracies) cannot continue with the level of apathy, ignorance, and irresponsibility that has been the condition with past generations. Technology and population conditions demand that the citizens of democracies must become more intellectually sophisticated if we hope for the species to survive beyond the next 200 years.

 

I think that a cursory examination of the twentieth century and our present conflict with what are labeled as terrorists dictate that we can no longer afford the luxury of the apathetic slumber that is characteristic of today’s citizens.

 

I also think that we can no longer afford to indulge in the very long incubation period that our species provides to the young. It is not unusual for youth today to remain less than responsible adults well beyond their twentieth year.

 

The inertia of the present customs and culture make it almost impossible for these changes to take place from the top down. I think that if drastic change is to take place it rests upon the new generations to force that change.

 

Young people can do this by quickly becoming more self-reliant, courageous, and enlightened citizens. They can do this through the development of a hobby that I call self-actualizing self-learning. They can do this by quickly becoming more intellectually sophisticated. All of this requires a larger dose of curiosity and caring.

Posted

It seems like you are catering to your audience more.

 

IMO The academia driven idea that people need to put forth all this effort to come into your world and understand what you are trying to say is just wrong. This creates a situations where infinite effort could be put forth to understand all kinds of claims, many of which would ultimately prove wrong thus wasting the time it took to learn the author's concept labels.

 

If you want someone to change their thinking from what they would otherwise do, you have to put forth the effort (which in general you seem more than willing to do). This might mean things like approaching the topic by proposing to answer important questions in people's lives (writing a self help book) and relabeling the concepts in a manner that preserves the underlying ideas but is more catchy or is better at implying what they are about to the average person. It looks like you are trying that.

Posted
It seems like you are catering to your audience more.

 

IMO The academia driven idea that people need to put forth all this effort to come into your world and understand what you are trying to say is just wrong. This creates a situations where infinite effort could be put forth to understand all kinds of claims, many of which would ultimately prove wrong thus wasting the time it took to learn the author's concept labels.

 

If you want someone to change their thinking from what they would otherwise do, you have to put forth the effort (which in general you seem more than willing to do). This might mean things like approaching the topic by proposing to answer important questions in people's lives (writing a self help book) and relabeling the concepts in a manner that preserves the underlying ideas but is more catchy or is better at implying what they are about to the average person. It looks like you are trying that.

 

I see my task as being a role model for those who might be inclined to become self-actualizing self-learners. Socrates is my role model but I hope I do not emulate his end.

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