An Alternative View on “Some People Never Change”
By: Mark Farrar
Tags: Growth, Pedantry, Education System, Asking Questions, Change

So, the question becomes, at what age do some people seem to lose their ability or willingness to change? And why?

The two answers are inextricably interlinked.

By nature, children are curious — asking questions is the beginning of any journey toward learning more. Of course, you still have to put in the work to find an answer. Sometimes you will be told what you need to know immediately. On other occasions, it may take some research, which could last a few minutes. or even a lifetime for scientists dedicated to some large and complex problem.

One of the issues seems to be that the society we have created is designed to kill that curiosity.

The education system is so much more about memorizing facts and formulae rather than about how to ask the right questions and go about finding the best answers.

When I was at school there were no such things as multiple choice questions in exams. You either knew the answer, and in some cases could demonstrate how you arrived at it, or you didn’t. Guessing was almost guaranteed to lead to failure.

By the time you are released into the “real world”, you are firmly plugged into an artificial structure where you obey anybody you perceive as an authority figure. This started with your parents, whose job it is, of course, to keep you safe and guide you. Then teachers entered the arena, followed by your boss at work, doctors, politicians, policemen, and so on.

At some point during this journey through life, many people lose their curiosity and ability to question. They blindly follow the rules and laws without thinking about them. Remember, though, what is legal is not always moral, and what is moral is not always legal.

Conforming to societal norms and the desire to fit in are so strong that rocking the boat, even in apparently small ways, takes courage. You risk being made fun of and, in some cases, being ostracized, even by your own family.

The time at which this happens depends on many factors, including your upbringing and your environment. And there’s one factor that cannot be overlooked here — religion, where asking questions is often actively discouraged.

But asking questions is how humans have progressed. It’s the people who ask “Is there a better way to do this…” or “I wonder what would happen if…” that have changed the world.

As if all of that weren’t bad enough, life itself has become increasingly hectic. Many people barely have time to cope with the necessities, never mind having the energy to explore the wonders of the universe or the logic of the decisions made by those in control.

If a day goes by when I don’t learn at least one new thing, I feel it was wasted. Even if I cannot immediately think of why I might need it, the thirst for knowledge is insatiable.

And for that, I think I can thank my parents. They exposed me to almost nothing but educational toys and games when I was young, rather than many more artistic activities such as drawing. Maybe that’s because that’s all they knew — neither my mum nor dad showed any real interest in the arts.

So, here I am, at 61, wondering why such a fascinating world is ignored by so many.

Is it because people are too tired to think and to pursue knowledge? Or is it the result of decades of being dumbed down by television combined with a world that is becoming more stressful and more difficult, not easier, as promised for so long? Remember those predictions of household robots and tons of leisure time, for example?