I'VE FIGURED IT OUT! "Figured what out?" I hear you ask. Well, why it is that we're all so stupid of course! Or at least why some of the seemingly intelligent among us occasionally feel so stupid. It's simply that there's too much to know. The average child is bombarded with more "facts" before they even reach high school than many of our great grandparents were exposed to in their entire lifetime. The human collective is accumulating phenomenal amounts of data and knowledge at an exponentially increasing rate. And yes knowledge and data are two separate things in my mind. Data is contained on that spreadsheet of consumer electronics prices detailing where one might find the best bargain on a new TV. Whereas knowledge is contained in the nugget of wisdom which says "don't bother, it's just the same old rubbish at a higher resolution".
Our hard drives and memory sticks are brimming with photos, videos, music and the odd document reminding us of that thing we weren't ever meant to forget but forgot anyway because we lost said document amongst the copious amounts of photos, videos and music we feel the absolute need to hoard. It is this need to collect and share information for all eternity that has seen mankind construct microwave ovens, land on the moon and upload hundreds if not thousands of youtube videos showing grown men (and women) igniting their own farts. We do it because we can. We do it because we want to share our experiences. We do it because we feel our world will somehow benefit from what we've discovered. And for the most part, we as humans feel the need to absorb as much of this shared experience as possible. After all, knowledge is power, right? (the fart videos don't count)
I'm beginning to realise that there is simply too much out there to know. Even about the areas of humanity, science and nature that I'm actually interested in. Which is why I suppose people become specialists. Am I only just working this out now? Bare with me as a press on. Every night I find myself staying up beyond any sort of reasonable hour trying to absorb some form knowledge or experience regarding our world and the creatures which inhabit it, but more often than not, I'm barely skimming the surface. As every area of human knowledge runs as deep as history will allow, how deeply should the casual passer by or inquisitive onlooker delve? Looking out across the the world, albeit remotely, through these LCD windows into the lives of others, I see three types of people. Firstly there are those whom I feel are certainly more stupid than myself and those who are only possibly more stupid than myself. Then there are others, whom I find rather witty, insightful and entirely necessary in the ongoing improvement of our society and planet earth. Unfortunately they are so completely in the minority I wonder if there's enough of them in the mix to see any benefit at all. And no, I do not believe myself to be one of them.
I feel as though we're getting a little dumber each day. Or at least the indecisive like myself. Unsure of where I should focus my curiosity. I try to learn as much as I can about anything and everything ultimately learning not very much at all. I'm one of those people that thinks they can do everything because no one told them they couldn't. Or shouldn't. I've decided to cut my losses and stop learning now. Brain full. I'll never become the world class musician I dreamt of, or hear every symphony ever composed, or every recording of each of those symphonies. I'll never see every beautiful painting, nor will I paint anything half as inspiring as anything hanging in a gallery today. The photos I take will continue to be mediocre at best. The food I cook will taste OK, but not amazing. The books I read will continue to.. who am I kidding? I don't read!
And the blog posts I write will continue to meander and fizzle out without quite reaching conclusion or point.
Just like this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment