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To ignore something is to 1) deliberately pay no attention to something or 2) Fail to notice something.

I feel it is important to bring up the topic of ignoring things because I am seeing it more and more often being used like a defense mechanism. Both young and old are making themselves deaf to the things they don't want to hear. Just today, a teacher I respect very much told me change the topic of my conversation because they did not wish to hear about it. This teacher wasn't even part of the conversation, and this was far from the first time it has happened.

But please, allow me to get to my point: The world is full of topics, ideas, people, views, beliefs, and thoughts that contradict your own. Rather than change the topic and ignore the fact these differing ideas, likes, beliefs, topics, whatever exist, why not listen in and learn something. I've listened to plenty of things that do nothing more than make me angry, but I go away with a better idea of the things I dislike.

Because I force myself to listen and learn, to acknowledge the things I despise or simply disagree with I am more capable of argueing my side of an arguement in an intelligent and calm manner. Now, I'm far from perfect. I've been in tons of arguements in which the billigerance of the person I was debating caused me to get angry and unable to argue my side. I'm sure it will happen again. I suppose it's one of those 'practice makes perfect' things.

Ignoring something leads to ignorance. And despite what some may think, ignorance is far from bliss. Most religions, schools, and societys discourage ignorance and say it is one of the greatest evils in the Universe. So perhaps we should tolerate what others have to say, listen in, learn something, and walk away better, wiser people.