I've lived my life by the core value of rejecting the bliss of ignorance for the sake of valuing knowledge as its own end. I'd rather be right than happy. And yes those are mutually exclusive more often than not.
Can confirm. Knowledge, particularly regarding humans, tends to be very demoralizing. Especially when it becomes second nature to toss out the ridiculous, subjective attempts at positive spin that usually follows the actual data.
"The data shows, yet again like all other data for half a century, that we, and by we I mean the sociopathic profiteers in charge, are altering the climate to be less hospitable towards human life. Herp derp this means we need to do better! Rah rah troops this is our chance to shine!“ just tells me you aren't a student of history. We have never not been self-destructive in numbers for long, all that's changed is the scale of our technological levers of self-destruction.
