To think that 45 year old British citizen should know what I'm talking about.....

[Bekindtoyourknees]

when I mention the wars in Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia etc?

His excuse: 'I wasn't there, so why should I know about them?'

I thought there was nothing left to shock me at work, seems I was wrong

I'm 45 too and the late 80s/early 90s are very sketchy for me because I was studying then

Sorry - how on earth does the fact you were studying have any relevance to a lack of knowledge? Surely, if anything, you should have known more about the world around you, since studying in general encourages you to read widely, take an interest in the world around you and also gives you more time to consider things. Students are often very political - getting involved in protests and campaigns.

Also, I disagree we have too much knowledge. The fact that there is so much information at our fingertips should mean we know more about the world we live in, not less. There are fewer reasons to say that we're unaware of current affairs.

I despair that anyone can write such ignorant drivel on Twitter - "Barraco Barner". Honestly - I'm ashamed that anyone could display such a lack of knowledge and show themselves to be so bloody stupid.

I've only just caught up with this thread so a bit late, but, Sashh in response to your criticism of my earlier post. You've made a lot of presumptions and clearly have misinterpreted what I have posted.

First of all I don't know how WW2 happened, and I know very very little about it because I actively avoid it as a topic. I've also not said I didn't know the Balkan conflict happened (although I always just associated it with Bosnia), same with Ukraine, I am aware of what is currently happening (I have a half decent explanation of it to another poster before this thread even started). My main point has been that I think it unreasonable to expect people to know the details of these events. As I said, I currently understand and vaguely follow what is happening in Ukraine, however, in 10 or 20 years I doubt I will be able summon even one of the facts.

Same can be said for the IRA bombings in London all those years ago. I was quite involved, as my dad worked in an industry where his buildings were constantly being contacted with bomb threats. Whilst at the time I was familiar with the conflict, it now feels like it happened to someone else as I can barely recall a thing.

I thought it was very interesting that Freckled asked what another poster does if these topics are discussed around her. That made me think. I realised I never discuss things like this with anyone! I've lived over 40 years, I meet lots of new people regularly as part of my job, I've probably never had a conversation about the Balkans, IRA, Libya, Iraq or the majority of political events apart from at the time they were happening. I suppose they might get mentioned on the tv or radio years later, but I think I'd change channels as these topics really don't interest me.

Waltonswatcher,while I understand the need to protect very young children from the news, I am sure you are aware that right now there are mothers in this world unable to help the suffering of their children, and unable to understand why no one seems to care.

I am aghast at anyone feeling they have the right not to even acknowledge suffering and to deliberately turn their backs.

Knowledge is rarely constructive .
Just knowing something won't help .
My point is that the posters who look down their noses at the bubble dwellers are , in the most part , unable to do bugger all anyway.

Thing is, you might not know WHY these conflicts happened but surely you would at least know that they DID occur. I'm in my 40s but I've heard of the Crimean War, the Boer War, WWI and II, the Falklands, Rwanda, the break-up of former Yugoslavia, the first Gulf War etc etc. I couldn't give you chapter and verse as to the causes of them all or details about every conflict - in some cases I'd struggle to pinpoint an exact date but would have an idea as to which decade - but I am aware that they took place. It's not necessarily about being 'interested', it's just having a basic awareness of what's going on, or had gone on, in the world.

I really very much beg to differ about that opinion Walton. Just because you can't do anything directly isn't the point. Like I said before, knowing something has happened means you can understand when something associated with that DOES enter your bubble. It allows you to be more empathetic. It also makes you question your own actions and beliefs in other areas.

What exactly was said ?

I've read all BeKind's comments but can't follow the conversation that was had with the colleague.

Most of us in bubbles put them there BECAUSE something's happened to us already .
My point is that uppity judgy pants sometimes know it all , but haven't got a clue .

And empathy has no link to keeping up with the news .
My approach to living is empathetic and caring . I don't need to check in with the latest looming disaster to be a good guy .

What do you mean by the "war in Slovenia" OP?

No, but you might understand something MORE. It adds to what you ALREADY know and ALREADY feel.