Listen up: if you ignore something, it will simply go away! Dismiss all those tedious people who keep advising you to nip it in the bud. Forget the images they provide, such as a snowball rolling downhill.
Out of sight, out of mind, I say.
Society has many chances to make your life miserable: mental health, annual medical exams, nutrition, etc.
In the 50s, Mad Magazine had it in for Prince Charles. At that age, he was all ears, and he smiled continuously without being attractive. The character they supposedly based on him was called “Alfred E. Neuman.” Once the image reached Chas, he is said to have gotten… mad. He allegedly mailed an unsigned letter to them from Buckingham Palace claiming there was no resemblance at all. Do you believe this story? Personally, I’m on the fence. The letter itself has conveniently disappeared. Alfred E.’s most famous saying: “WHAT, ME WORRY?”
Many years later, Joan Rivers, American comic, alluded to the physical presence of the British royal family in a show. She said, “We all know how people name their dogs. Here, Duke; here, Prince; here, Queenie!” Fortunately, Charles has now grown into his looks.
All kinds of ethical conundra crop up. For example, what is your opinion of the following: a doctor has examined someone’s husband/grandpa/gramma/third cousin. The diagnosis is grave. The doctor is afraid of telling the patient about this due to his or her fragility, but he does inform the next of kin. What would you do if you were next of kin? Would you tell him or her, thereby making his or her life miserable? Would you say nothing on the proviso that ignorance is bliss? (What, me worry?)
Maybe the situation would be different if you had a pain. Years ago, I had a colleague who was a genuine Indian mystic. He swore that, through sheer mind control, he could overcome the weather. One day, Sudakhar failed to show up for work. That day became a week. Finally, Sudakhar’s wife called in: he had left the office in a thin suit that morning and came back home with pneumonia.
His next appearance at work found him swathed in a heavy, though ill-fitting, coat.