Writer Aaron McCall claims ignorance is a choice
By: AARON MCCALL
Staff Writer
In an age where ignorance is a choice, I never could understand why people loved to debate things they know nothing about.
Why choose to be ignorant in an age where the information is so accessible?
Why speak on a topic you have no knowledge on, only to be embarrassed? If you are not informed on a subject then just sit back, listen and observe instead of making yourself look bad by getting into a situation you cannot get out of.
There is a quote that from Abraham Lincoln that says, “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”
That quote should be exercised more often. If people had the same thirst for gaining knowledge as they did debating, things would match up perfectly.
It is not like you have to solve a riddle or get through a maze to find out what you want to know. No one is sitting at the end of the earth hoarding the world’s greatest information.
In the era we live in all the information imaginable is at your fingertips, so not being familiar with a topic falls solely on you. Always remember Google is your friend. Knowledge is power, and the greatest asset an individual can possess is a sharp mind.
Literally anything can be typed into a Google search bar and an abundance of useful information regarding that topic will show up.
Google will arm you with the information you want to be captain of the debate team in no time. If you are willing to listen instead of speak, absorb new information and ask questions instead of resorting to arguing you will be fine debating any topic.
It is always a good idea to know a little bit of information about a variety of topics.
Being versatile is never a negative thing in today’s fast paced world. Having confidence is important in all walks of life, but pride must be held in check sometimes.
As a college student I am probably at a stage where I think I know everything, but something new can always be learned. When a person thinks there is no further knowledge to be acquired, then a problem has surfaced.
I do not know how many times I have had a discussion with a person and midway through realized that they really have no idea what they are talking about. Often times people not only debate these topics, but actually get mad when they are told what they have to say is wrong.
That is never a good thing and I try and avoid these situations as much as the next person, but somehow they continue coming up. Most times, debates are usually over the same few topics: sports, music, religion or politics.
While the topics remain the unchanged, no two debates are alike. I think the most valuable currency on earth is the ability pass down the knowledge you have acquired to someone else.
If we live amongst large numbers of people who choose to argue topics they are not educated on, what type of message does that send to the youth?
Check out a book or get on Google every once in a while. You never know what you might find.
