A lot of people do not know what do 'pros' and 'cons' stand for or originate from. Would anyone like to take a guess? Don't google for it. That's just cheap and further reinforce your dependency on search engines. Better yet, if you can live without knowing, it helps prove you are not addicted to knowledge. Kevin and Kevan will know this. Addiction to knowledge is actually a condition. Being curious and 'like-to-find-out' are healthy, but when you actively search for new information, or have developed a habit of must-get-to-know whenever you encounter something you don't understand, it becomes a destructive condition (that means it has negative impact on you overall).
I am sure many people had this experience before: when we finally know what the others are whispering about, it felt like a great relief. This feeling also occurs during moments such as when we get the pieces of a situation together or get the hang of the rhythm when playing Guitar Hero. A more subconscious version of this feeling comes when we come across something we do not know, such as what is the Hammurabi's Code, or Double-stranded RNA Activated Caspace Oligomerizer (DRACO), only to google it later and discover that Hammurabi's Code is one of the oldest well preserved code of laws, and DRACO is a developing drug that has the possibility to treat all viral infection. Did you notice a feeling of excitement, lightness, relief, or any kind of difference moments ago? Most people with knowledge addiction would!
 |
| Note that the only final product is wisdom. Also, intelligence is no factor. This is because intelligence has no relationship with knowledge, no matter what people might think otherwise. |
There is actually a very simple explanation for this: The 'thirst for knowledge' is actually craving for opium. I am serious. According to neuroscientists led by Irving Biederman from the University of Southern California, the pleasure derived from the 'ohhhh~~'-ness of understanding and knowing is due a trigger in your brain similar to a shot of natural opiates. No kidding! I wonder if we suffer from withdrawal symptoms if we are deprived of the options to know things we don't understand.
Knowledge addiction has similar reasons with opium addiction ranging from those that love the relief of stress to those that just enjoy the high. There are, however, reasons that we are less aware of. For example, many people want to know a lot simply because it makes them feel great, confident and well-equipped. After all, knowledge is power! It is generally acceptable that we would rather know than not know, but there are now increasing reported cases from psychologist offices in which patients declared that they feel frustrated when others know something they don't know. We can predict that this will get worse, given the progression of our knowledge-based society. Few people are geniuses, but everyone have the same chance to know a lot. This is called equality.
If you happen to self-diagnose yourself and think you are addicted to knowledge, and you are not exactly happy about it, don't fret! It isn't exactly a bad thing. We've even got big names people who are addicted to knowledge, or at least they think they are. These people have even made it big, probably bigger than you! Here's some examples:
Natalie Portman: graduated from Harvard University with a B.A degree in psychology. Reportedly, she once said 'I would rather be smart than be a movie star.' She had authored scientific publications, lectured at Columbia University and studied French, Japanese, German and Arabic. For those who aren't sure, she's an actress and was casted as the Padme in Star Wars, Evey in V for Vendetta, Emma in No String Attached and Nina in Black Swan.
James Franco: graduated from University of California, Los Angeles. He was allowed to take 62 course credits per quarter instead of the usual 19. Then he moved to New York and simultaneously attended graduate school at FOUR DIFFERENT universities and colleges! All these were done while being an actor, director, author, screenwriter, producer, professor, painter, pilot, model and musician. For those aren't sure, he is Harry in Spiderman, David in Eat Pray Love, that self-amputating guy in 127 Hours, and the scientist in the recent Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Emma Watson: she's just enrolled in university. But reportedly she said, 'I love learning. I'm addicted to knowledge. It just like, makes me happy.' The actress is the girl responsible for Hermoine in the Harry Potter series.
As you can see, addiction to knowledge really isn't a bad thing at all. These people had taken their addiction with them and moved on to be big shots in the big world. If you are in love with knowledge, you are suffering from no handicap.
P.S. If you had not googled for it, you are still eligible to answer the question of the post: what do 'pros' and 'cons' stand for/originate. Say your answer in the comments!
ZhuZhu8th
