The Fine Line

Odd how one picks up small bits and pieces of poetry, songs, sayings, etc. from God knows where and carries them throughout life.

One of my favorites, probably from my grade school days when I was becoming aware of profundities (love that word), is "He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, he is a fool: shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not, he is ignorant; teach him. But he who knows and knows he knows, he is wise; follow him." Too bad more people don't adhere to this very helpful guideline. Which brought me to the subject for today's blog.

Whereas the gap between stupidity and wisdom is awesomely wide, only the very thinest of lines separates ignorance from stupidity—a line so thin the two are often and easily confused. Ignorance is, by definition, simply a lack of knowledge, and can be overcome (and I can't help but observe that the core of the word "ignorance" is "ignore"). The true test of who is stupid and who is ignorant lies in whether they are even aware that the line exists. The ignorant need only apply the tool of leaning—to which, admittedly and for many reasons, they may not always have easy access. The stupid either deny the tool exists or have no interest whatever in using it. Both stupidity and ignorance are, in effect, prison cells with unlocked doors. The ignorant may, due to their circumstances, be unaware that they are free to leave; the stupid have no desire to. A fool operates on the principle of the old cliche, "Don't bother me with facts; my mind's made up."

As a general rule of thumb, stupidity is defined not only by the absolute refusal to even consider any opinion that differs from one’s own, but by the frequently zealous denial of the right of others to have other opinions. Ignorance curable; stupidity is terminal.

Some time ago, in a post onto Facebook, I quoted Polonius' advice to his son, Laertes, in Hamlet: "This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not be false to any man." It evoked the following comment: "Why don't u use English?" I responded with a modern-English interpretation of the quote, to which the same person replied: "U mean be true to urself!" Yes, that's what I mean.

I did not automatically assume the questioner was stupid, but I was both mildly shocked and saddened by her ignorance. However her second question indicated that she may suffer far more from ignorance than stupidity. And to me, the most terrifying thing is that while the line cannot be crossed from stupidity to ignorance, there is a great danger of crossing the line in the other direction. Ignorance ignored can too easily become stupidity.

We are a nation of ignorance seemingly sinking deeper and deeper into the quagmire of stupidity with each succeeding generation. Studies and reports show how terrifyingly ignorant our general public is becoming. Ignorant parents tend to raise ignorant children. When a shocking number of teenagers read far below their grade level, when they do not comprehend basic math and science, when they cannot find China on a map, it is time for grave concern.

Alarm bells have been rung so loudly and so long that we are becoming deaf to them. The ignorant aren't quite sure what they mean, and the stupid neither know nor care.

The fact that stupidity has taken such a firm foothold is in large part due to its vociferous proponents—those science-denying politicians and “I speak for God” preachers and self-serving pundits, all of whom confuse volume and intensity for validity. Listen, if you have the stomach and tolerance for it, to see if you can find even one scintilla of positivity or hope anywhere in their ranting. That there is nothing positive in stupidity is painfully self-evident. 

Is there a lesson here? I'd hope it might be this: never, never confuse those who claim to know for those who do know. How can you tell them apart? Your mind may not always know, but your heart surely does.

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This blog is from Dorien's collection of blogs written after his book, “Short Circuits,” available from UntreedReads.com and Amazon.com, was published. That book is also available as an audio book from Amazon/Audible.com.  We are looking at the possibility of publishing a second volume of blogs. The blogs now being posted are from that tentative collection. You can find information about all of Dorien's books at his web site:  www.doriengrey.com.