If You Think About That You'll Go Mad and Other Arguments For Ignorance
Most writers spend a lot of time trying to understand how we think but increasingly I find myself concerned with how we don't think. Or rather, what we choose not to think about. What we ignore can offer many insights, not just into who we are, but also what our perceptions are of the world which surrounds us.
Many reasons exist for us to be reluctant to think about certain subjects, or points of view, but fear of a challenge to our ideals is probably the least helpful among them. If we avoid different points of view purely because we are set in our ways then we miss avenues which might deepen our understanding, both of ourselves and our social circumstances.
Our beliefs are shaped by a complicated web of information and timelines which often operate on a 'first come, first served' basis. Our minds are saturated with ideas by the time we reach maturity and, at that point, taking on any more points of view becomes a daunting prospect. How will they fit in to our already crowded mental landscape? Will everything have to change and, if not, what will be affected?
A new idea is like a mischievous ghost in a library, messing up the filing system and throwing old books out of the window. Human beings don't like to think of information as being perishable or a thing of the moment but our society is changing, expanding and uncovering new facts at a startling rate. As a result, a closed mind can be a dangerous thing.
Without opposition, our novels and art would be unimaginative and one-dimensional. I challenged myself to write a short story which was centred on harmony as part of one of my blogs (Humour, Happiness, Peace and Love; x X x, Parts 1 & 2) and, though I was pleased enough with what I achieved, I think it proved that a single, unified, world of thought produces limited possibilities.
So, one aspect of why we refuse to consider certain subjects is a fear of challenge to our own identity but why else might we want to remain in ignorance? Certain obstacles to free thought come from our societies and the rhetoric they deploy to steer our thoughts or, in certain cases, even prevent them. Labels like; Dissident, or; Conspiracy Theorist,are powerful barriers to certain types of thought in western societies. Most of us don't want to be considered bad, or strange, people and so we concern ourselves with ideas which are more fitting to our position within society.
A lack of information and an inability to enact change is another reason we choose not to think. This falls under the; 'If you think about that, you'll go mad', category. Most of the really big problems which a progressive culture faces are of this ilk but unfortunately someone, at some time, is going to have to risk their sanity if we are ever to progress. Why shouldn't it be you?
So where does this leave us as readers and authors?
Well, in an ideal world we meet our concerns and fears halfway. An author structures a book which is set in a landscape that is comfortingly familiar but contains thought provoking challenges. Readers continue to favour the genres they like but are conscious of literature's ability, and desire, to challenge their ideals. A comforting read is favoured less than a slightly challenging one.
To use my own recent experience, I chose to write something which has an inescapably religious aspect (Beige Soup – which everyone should download for free from; www.loron-jon.com, all rights reserved) to challenge and explore my own beliefs, or perhaps lack of them. To counterbalance the subject matter with something more familiar I used humour and a modern, pop-culture, setting.
A little bit of challenge amidst a lot of comforting normalcy.
Whether you're a reader or writer, the most important thing is to be in conscious control of your thoughts. Open-mindedness doesn't have to mean changing your opinion more often than your clothes, or losing your identity, but passively letting all of the things which we've discussed control your actions certainly does.
Endlessly, Perpetually, Something,
L-J
Final thought;
Only the mouths of thieves and liars offer guarantees against the uncertainties of fate.
