It is no secret that I’m a little bit of a news-junkie. My strong ‘need to know’ cycles focus between various topics from technology to current events to politics to whatever else strikes my fancy at that moment. But for the most part, I’m pretty constantly absorbing some form of current news or tech-related information (manuals, how-to’s, faqs, etc.)
Now, I for the most part consider my news-loving ways to be good. I wish more people kept up more with what was going on around them. Hell, I wish I had more of a desire to keep up in current events, but when I’m not on a ‘current event’ or ‘politics’ binge, I rarely read more than one or two news stories from CNN or NY Times a day….too depressing and repetitive when I’m not in the mood.
But the other day I was kinda drifting off into “what-if” land, and I was thinking about if I ever moved to somewhere 3rd world-ish for some reason. (missionary, geek-corp, etc.)
And all I could think of was about how when I came back I would have no idea what was going on with tech stuff, political stuff, or any other things that were hip in the US.
Then, when people asked “what do you think of XYZ” I would have nothing to respond. I would have no context with which to form an opinion on the latest trends in any of the things I like, or any of the things going on around the world.
I would quickly be relegated to the status of normal ignorant American, just spouting opinions w/o reasons…or I would just not say anything…which also pains me.
I think a big part of my not liking that idea, is that you can gain popularity by being ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘thoughful’.
The easiest way to appear ‘knowledgeable’ is to keep up with current events, because it is easier to keep up with events than it is to research old ones, at least in my opinion anyway. And a little historical context, and a little current context goes a long way in making your conclusions of what those current events means appear ‘thoughtful’.
I mean how often is a Christian daunted or left feeling ignorant when talking to a non-Christian when the non-Christian knows one historical fact you didn’t that seems to say your wrong. I hear that complaint a lot when talking to people about their efforts to discuss religion with their friends.
So, wrong or right, I’m a addicted to feeling ‘smart’ by knowing things. And, to not know things scares me because some part of my perception of who I am in a community and how I can influence it is tied up in that.