Ignorance is not an excuse. Back in my uni days we used to say something like, if you thought education was expensive, the price of ignorance was much greater. (I didn't know at the time that Derek Bok had already claimed those words of wisdom.) On reflection, back then we probably misused the word 'ignorant' to describe someone who disagreed with us or our sacred views. We probably should have used the word 'uninformed'.
Anyhow, as things have turned out, whatever word we used didn't matter much. The arrival of the Internet meant that ignorance could no longer be accepted as an excuse. The Internet helps us to become informed; providing, of course, that we are willing to put in the time and the effort to look-up stuff of interest or what we don't know. Alternatively, of course, it's easy to choose to live in one's own little world and rely on something else (media, gossip, etc.) to keep one informed.
Using 'age' as an excuse for not knowing is a cop-out. Ignorance, and the decision to remain that way, is a choice.
Several recent studies conducted in Australia all agree that there is huge and continuing growth among over-sixties who use the Internet. The main reasons are
- to stay in touch with friends and loved ones,
- to make purchases online,
- to make travel bookings, and
- to find out information.
I recently experienced, at first hand, the ease of access to the plethora of information available online. I was cooking and found the recipe online at mouse-click speed. Another instance occurred when I was chatting with a friend about the great tightrope walker, Philippe Petit, who stopped New York traffic one day in 1974 when he high-wire walked between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Centre. With the aid of her handheld device, my coffee-sharer was able to locate all of the details, including a YouTube of the event and even a TED presentation by Philippe. The third instance occurred when I decided to attend a trivia night (you know, one of those events where, what Einstein called 'lumber knowledge', is rewarded). At the venue, all participants were asked to leave their mobile devices at the door, thus barring access to the Internet, where answers to the toughest questions are a quick search away.
Wisdom, we're told, begins with an awareness of our ignorance. Thanks to the Internet, we're all able to be so much wiser.
Dr Neil Flanagan is a keynote and conference speaker. You can download for free a copy of one of his bestselling books BLINK! The Speed of Life (How to add years to your life and life to your years) when you visit http://www.neil.com.au
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