We all like to think we are always acting at our most intelligent and rational. Yet, ignorance from a lack of education can sneak up on us or be on full display in others.
Awareness is key to preventing and correcting some of our worst ideas and behavior. Here are 15 signs of ignorance and poor education to look out for.
1. Misunderstanding Tax Brackets
Do you think earning more means losing more to taxes? That’s often not the case. Higher income does mean more taxes, but you’ll still have more money after those taxes than before.
2. Equating Intelligence With Education
Having a degree doesn’t always equal higher intelligence or quality of education. Assuming that a degree alone provides the experience and knowledge for expertise is a faulty assumption. Being smart includes emotional, practical, and creative skills, not just academic success.
3. Lack of Empathy
Not having the empathy to understand different viewpoints or perspectives can make analyzing issues much harder. Understanding different views is a big part of understanding complex issues or others in general.
4. Pretending Expertise
Claiming you’re an expert after a quick internet search? Real expertise takes years of study, not just a few clicks.
5. Not Reading Past Headlines
The belief that one is fully informed by reading headlines alone is misleading. Reading the article in its entirety before making or spreading assumptions is important for avoiding false information.
6. Judging People on Their Accents
Judging intelligence based on someone’s accent? That is often a big mistake and an unfortunate bias. Speaking multiple languages, accent or not, is impressive.
7. Celebrating Ignorance
Proud of not knowing stuff? That’s not something to brag about. Being curious and open to learning is where growth is nurtured.
8. Dismissing Grammar
Mixing up “your” and “you’re”? We all do it, but constant mistakes and misunderstanding of basic grammar and spelling rules can be seen as a sign of lack of education.
9. Unyielding Beliefs
Those who refuse to reconsider their ideology despite overwhelming evidence demonstrate willful ignorance. Being educated means being open to updating your views when sound facts and evidence present themselves.
10. Voting Against Your Interests
Voting against one’s interests often stems from a lack of understanding about how policies affect personal and community well-being. It suggests a gap in recognizing the connection between political decisions and their direct impact on individual lives.
11. Ignoring Basic Facts
Missing some basic history or science facts? We all have our gaps, but brushing up on these basics can give you a solid foundation to build on.
12. Reliance on Astrology
Making big life decisions based on astrology? It’s fun to check your horoscope, but real decisions need more than your sign. Keeping it real with facts and evidence is the way to go.
13. Neglecting Financial Literacy
Assuming that managing money is intuitive and doesn’t require some effort can be a sign of poor financial education. Financial literacy, including understanding savings, investments, and budgeting, is crucial for securing one’s financial future.
14. Conspiracy Theories as Gospel
Convinced that everything’s a conspiracy? Taking news with a grain of salt is one thing, but dismissing everything as fake without digging is missing the full picture.
15. Throwing Around Fallacies
When confronted with a direct claim, deflecting and trying to redirect the argument with a “what about” statement is often a show of ignorance. Engaging in whatabout-ism to cancel out valid arguments avoids addressing the issue at hand.
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