In light of several author crash outs on Threads in the past week, I find myself thinking about ignorance.

It’s ok to be ignorant. We all start out ignorant. It isn’t bliss. But it is a blank canvas. Sometimes due to our environment we remain ignorant in many ways and are raised into ignorance. This is unfortunate but it is not irreparable, if we choose to acknowledge the ignorance and to learn.

It does mean that there may be times when we unintentionally screw up because of our ignorance and that’s ok, if we apologize and recognize the harm we’ve caused, and then commit to learning. Arrogance and an unwillingness to admit ignorance and harm caused by it will only hold us back from growing into a good person.

Imagine if a baby who started to walk failed a few times, and then just refused to ever do it again — that’s what some adults do. They become aware of their ignorance and instead of pushing through it and getting better through knowledge and practice, which involves the help of others — just like a baby requires the hands of adults to guide them through their first steps — they give up and refuse the help of others, choosing to remain ignorant. Choosing to refuse to learn to walk.

We’re born ignorant, yes, but it’s a choice to stay that way after a while. Choose knowledge. Choose listening to others who know better than you. Choose growth. Choose acknowledging harms you’ve caused and properly apologizing, regardless of intent.

Ignorance is not bliss and it can cause real harm.