The Negativity of Ignoring free essay sample

Throughout law 36, Greene explains: â€Å"Disdain things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best revenge† (300). While this may be true, ignorance can also cause negativity in the way someone may be perceived as well as problems in relationships, school, family, and children. Robert Greene’s law 36: â€Å"Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is The Best Revenge† states in his judgment that by giving attention towards an enemy you strengthen their credibility and it is best to show contempt for things or people you have interest in (300). Although Greene makes a valid point that ignorance makes one seem superior, he fails to mention how one might be perceived through the acts ignorance. For example, if a person is using ignorance to get rid of someone they do not like, then the person they do not like may begin to think of that person as immature, and weak. Not taking action makes people seem cowardly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Negativity of Ignoring or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The way this person may be seen is as someone that has traits such as not paying attention or caring, frequently being rude and inconsiderate, or in today’s modern jargon a â€Å"bitch† or an â€Å"asshole. Even though people are sometimes drawn to the fact that someone is not showing any interest in them because it makes the person ignoring seem mysterious or attractive, it should also make one wonder why they would be curious about someone that gives off a vibe that obviously shows they are not interested. These traits bring negativity and issues in oneself through being ignorant. There are many relationships that contain flaws and problems. Whether it is due to lack of chemistry or an excess of differences, relationships should not be solved through ignoring their partner. Greene illuminates the idea of ignoring the things you want most because through showing desire one becomes resistant to a person that shows too much interest (305). But in fact, ignoring will do the opposite of improving a relationship. For instance, a wife has been working all day and even though she is tired she still makes dinner for her husband. He then gets home from work and decides to watch television followed by having dinner with his wife and does not acknowledge the things she does for him. This lack of communication and interest causes tension for the wife and forces an opening of arguments that cause problems in a marriage. Through the lack of communication in this relationship it shows that ignoring does not only cause these problems and tensions but it also upsets the wife and the relationship does not grow functionally, but instead falls apart. And so Greene neglects to say how ignorance can backfire and bring a negative influence and more problems. Although there are many problems in school and the work place, one of the growing issues is that students are showing a lack of interest in academics and in employees there is often a lack of drive. In Greene’s book, The Forty Eight Laws of Power, he includes, â€Å"It is tempting to want to fix our mistakes, but the harder we try, the worse we often make them. It is sometimes more politic to leave them alone† (306). This quote is being proven by the students and employees that have the mentality of not caring about anything. Trying harder is the reason that people persevere in life towards their goals and ambitions. Through working hard, people gain experience, essential characteristics, and a better life. If people were to just give up every time they made a mistake our world would be not be where it is today. Perseverance is the solution to becoming superior not ignoring our flaws and mistakes but embracing them as well. Through ignoring our mistakes in school or work it generates negativity and problems towards the outcomes of one’s life. So while Greene explains that ignorance is a strength he does not point out how it can be misunderstood and turn into a setup for failure. There are many people that have estranged relationships with relatives. Whether it is with their parents or siblings, this estrangement is brought about by ignorance. Only if there is valid reason for this estrangement like they had left or they are a bad influence is this ignorance acceptable. In other cases such as, a child that wants attention or wants to be independent decides to act through rebellion or a sibling being immature and ignoring for no legitimate reason is what causes problems in a family. In these examples, the relationships between parents and their children or between siblings result in family relatives being pushed away and not being as close as they should be. These issues let negativity and problems flow throughout a dysfunctional family. The solution to this problem would be the complete opposite of ignoring, but taking into consideration what their family members may be feeling and remembering that there are people out there that have lost or do not have families of their own. In the book, The Forty Eight Laws of Power, Greene says, â€Å"By ignoring you cancel them out. This unsettles and infuriates them—but since they have no dealings with you, there is nothing they can do† (304). This quote is an example of what could happen to a family that keeps on with ignorance. One will cancel their family out even if it is not their intention. The act of ignorance will push people away causing problems that are unnecessary. Children often see their elders and people in the media that they idolize as role models. When children observe what their role models are doing they also tend to mimic their actions. In Greene’s law 36, he consistently points out that ignoring makes one seem superior, but what if a child were to see these types of actions happening? A child’s perceptions and outlook on life can change significantly if he or she were seeing their role models executing actions of ignoring. When children are young, at most times they try to be like their role models. So if a child sees their older sister or favorite singer doing things that provoke ignorance they may do the same and keep these habits as they get older. Although ignorance can be seen as a strength because it can make someone seem better than other people, it can just as well be viewed as a weak characteristic because ignoring shows a deficiency of knowledge and awareness. Carrying out the habits of ignoring can lead a child’s life into completely different directions but it is more likely that it will bring negativity and problems into their life. In conclusion, Greene’s process of ignoring is not always going to go the way as planned. It does have negative effects and it does not solve anything. Ignoring can also brings up more problems than there already are. It can cause issues in relationships through lack of communication, or in school and work through lack of academic behavior or lack of drive, or in families through estrangement, and in children through changing their outlooks on life in a negative form. It is important that if ignorance is used, it is used in a way that people benefit from and are not insulted or hurt by it. Although ignorance may be the best revenge, it is not always the smartest action to execute.