The Eternal Argument

[Leanne]

Most people aren't ignorant by choice -- if they're given a way in, and a hand up, they'll tackle the more challenging stuff as long as it's something they want to read about.

As i read this sentence i can't help but think it should be "most people are ignorant by choice but if they're given..."

it doesn't take a rocket scientist to read poetry yet most people just dismiss it offhand because they have a preconceived notion about it. after all if the "mass" is dictating your life then you had better fall in line with how they think, and quirky one-liners are in and deep meaningful artworks are out. you have to play to the audience like shakespeare said all the world's a stage.

When you're young, it's easy to assume that people don't understand you, that they're maybe not quite as clever as you are... as you get older, you come to realise that although some people are just born thick, most are actively discouraged from thinking independently by one system or another. Given a reason to look at things in a deeper fashion, most people will try to meet the challenge.

The problem is, mediocrity abounds and they're given no choice but to embrace it. If the only colour available is beige, you'll wear beige.