Stupid or ignorant?

These words have negative conotations, but what do they really mean?

Ignorance is not knowing. Each of us is more ignorant than knowledgeable about most things. I am ignorant of stockcar racing, dry walling, oil painting, and just about everything else. I know a good bit about Geology and Psychology, and a smattering of things that I've read about. But about most things I am fully ignorant, just like you.

Ignorance can occur due to a lack of experience, education, or exposure to something. So ignorance is not inherently a negative description.

Stupidity is another animal. A person is stupid when they have the facts before them and choose to ignore them; or, when given a chance to learn about something choose not to. It is stupid to see all the data and the carefully articulated arguments by virtually all the world's experts on global warming, and then choose to ignore it all.

Ignorance and stupidity are not mutually exclusive, however. The most dangerous person to our society, if not the world, is the ignorant and stupid individual. They don't know about something, may even claim to, and when presented with the facts, chooses to ignore them. We can't really handle much more stupidity without grave consequences.

I would love to get each candidate for any office in my office for 30 minutes. I'd ask them pointed questions that isolated their problem-solving skills and general knowledge level, and then I'd hone in on some meaty stuff to ferret out the sham aretists, uncover the false fronts, and unmask the biggots. Then I'd tell all who might listen who the real deals were.

I have a lot of room in my heart for ignorance, but none for stupidity.