Ignorance is Bliss
2002-12-18 . 9:52 p.m.

This is going to come across as really arrogant but listen anyway -

We are clever. All of us who post on this site are above average in the smarts stakes, that's a given. We know how to use a computer, most of us have a basis in HTML and most of us are in tune with our emotions and those of others.

Congratulations. Welcome to the top 10% of humanity.

Here's a question for you though - Wouldn't you like to be stupid sometimes?

Well, perhaps not stupid as such, more ignorant of the finer detail. Like one of the meat-puppets that goes through their daily lives with not a care for their fellow man/woman/animal. Those people who go out nightly and just do stuff. Maybe I'm the only one, I'm not sure, but sometimes I can't but help thinking how much nicer it must be not to see the reasons behind other's actions. Not to see how one action causes another. Not to realise when you have hurt another and in turn not to feel hurt when others act in certain ways.

Perhaps mankind would be better off like this?

Nah, bollocks. That's a shockingly poor idea. Without empathy, without emotion (or other words beginning em-) the world would be a worse place. There would be no art, no love, no life and no soul. It hurts sometimes being sensitive to others. Part of empathy is knowing your own emotions. We all like to feel that we're something special, and perhaps, in real life, we are. But on this site we are not. We're equals.

As a result of that equality we all find some sort of bond with the others on here. It's like a calling together of like-minded citizens. Those who, although they understand the reasons behind people's behaviour, perhaps feel uncomfortable pointing this out. It's sort of like a big club for emotional people to excise their anger and frustration (and sometimes positive emotions) with the big wide world out there. Boss or colleagues p*ssed you off? Relationship going badly? Diaryland allows us to publicly vent our emotions to people like us.

The similarity in our reading, our music and our movie taste all shows something - we are alike. We are bonded. I enjoy that and I hope you enjoy the fact that although you may have troubles outside, in here, we are all together a big bunch of smart-arses.

The topics we discuss, the situations we rail against; they are all familiar to others on here and that's what makes it great. A meeting ground for people who like the company of others like them.

I for one am glad you are all here. Sometimes I get supportive messages from you, sometimes sarcastic answers. All of these help me analyse the situations I write about in different ways. All the experience I have had here is positive with the exception of one ignorant prick (yes you, f*ckstick) and as a result I have to say with hand on heart that this is a great support network for emotional cripples like me.

Anyway, I've kissed all of your butts long enough with this. When I'm slightly more worse for wear later I'll post a random rant about something. It certainly seems to bring in the kudos for my shattered ego.

Thanks for listening. Now give yourself a pat on the back. I think you're special.