I had a client once who made an interesting observation about being a psychologist. He said, “It must be so nice to never get angry about anything.” He was referring to the work we were doing on using empathy to understand both sides of an argument.
I laughed and told him that while it certainly wasn’t always the case, he wasn’t entirely off the mark. Most of the time, I do strive to understand different perspectives and respect people’s choices, even if they differ from my own. I firmly believe in the value of informed opinions and open dialogue.
(And this is why what follows is not an indictment of anyone who made an active, informed choice in the recent referendum (or any other vote or significant decision).)
But the key word there is INFORMED.
Because something that happened during the Voice Referundum campaign sent me hopping mad and inspired me to put my thoughts to paper. I hope perhaps it will inspire you to have similar conversations with your friends, families and clients moving forward.
So, here’s the story: the day of the Voice referendum, I found myself in a long line of folks waiting to cast their votes. While I was there, I couldn’t ignore the tagline one side of the debate was using on their signage: ‘If you don’t know, vote no.’
Honestly, it felt like they might as well have put up a sign saying, “Ignorance is Bliss” or “Change is Scary.” No matter which side of the referendum you were on, let’s dissect that message for a moment.
It’s like saying ignorance is better than informed decision-making.
That the status quo must reign supreme just because it’s the status quo.
That being informed is overrated.
This whole thing bothers me deeply because I worry it reflects a broader philosophy that’s seeping into our lives and decision-making. It’s got me thinking about the messages we’re sending to our kids and what this all means for the future.
You know who benefits from ignorance being bliss?
Those who want to avoid tough conversations.
Those who thrive on keeping the existing power structure intact.
Those who’d rather not bother coming up with a better argument.
As a psychologist, I’ve witnessed firsthand and repeatedly the harm done to people when their choices are stripped away. They’d give anything to have had a say.
So, my message to all of us is, don’t toss your voice aside.
By making informed choices, you can rest easy at night knowing you did your part. You weren’t just a cog in someone else’s machine; you had a choice and a voice.
Don’t throw that away.
And don’t trust ANYONE who actively encourages you to stay ignorant and uninformed. They’re not doing you any favours.