I think you're on to something: the "happy ignorant" people I've known and have seen around me do some really avoidable Ls, like eating Hot Pockets and pounding down soda with every meal (their shopping carts said it all when I saw them in line) and smoking like chimneys until it's no surprise that they are utterly wrecked by 50 and are maybe have an oxygen tank, colostomy bag, or both.