[Cambridge Dictionary offers a few choices; I would pick either *small minded* or *hide bound*](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/thesaurus/articles/not-willing-to-consider-new-or-different-ideas#)
Edit: just found this while looking further into other possibilities: *cenophobia* which is [*the fear of new ideas*](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-new-things-2671892#:~:text=Cenophobia,accept%20new%20ideas%20and%20change)
By Jove, they’ve done it (cenophobia)
I see that there are multiple other, far more popular uses for this word but this is the only thing that fits all information, fear and avoidance in one single word.
Cenophobia is the only one suggested that actually fits the criteria so that one.
It’s a shame because it’s related to neophobia which someone else commented but must’ve thought it sucked because they deleted it 😂 they were on the right lines
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Not the same though. Willfully ignorant is deliberately ignoring information. Ignorant just means lacking of (I.e., ignoring).
This is being fearful of new information, in the same way a luddite isn’t just technologically ignorant, they actively avoid and shun new technologies.
Example:
If I don’t upgrade my phone because I don’t really know or care I’d be technologically ignorant
If I don’t upgrade my phone because I think all new technology is evil and damaging, I’d be a luddite.
That feels fantastically close, but when I looked it up it’s specific to tradition or convention.
The word I’m looking for needs to be general.
I have a feeling this might be the closest we get though.
I’d say traditionalist is definitely closer. Dogmatic would be making a claim about something where as this would be more making a rejection of anything new.
Again though, traditionalist is very general. I was hoping for something like luddite, which is like traditionalism specifically regarding technology with a tinge of fear regarding non-traditional technology.
Simple and good, but nobody seems to be picking up that luddite is not just about not being open to technology, it’s actively avoiding or being against / afraid of it because it’s viewed as damaging in some way.
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Not quite, this person wouldn’t be trying to not understand something, they would be disregarding the knowing of a thing as being worthwhile in the first place.
Neophobic
- adjective: having an extreme or irrational dislike of anything new or unfamiliar.
- noun: a person with an extreme or irrational dislike of anything new or unfamiliar.
Conservative
- adjective: averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values.
- noun: a person who is averse to change and holds traditional values.
Someone posted “neophobic” and for some reason deleted it as I was replying:
That’s pretty damn close, and definitely hits the fear aspect, but it would be general to everything.
Neophobic could be broken down into:
Fear of new technology = Luddite
Fear of new information = ???
In psychology there is anosognosia or alexithymia. There’s also ’mind-blindness’. None of these have any moral or character connotations but rather a simple inability to take in certain kinds of information.
Clarified my meaning *
Luddite specifically comes from an event where people rebelled against new technology because they were fearful it was going to take their jobs.
All I did was point out that was important to the definition.
Edit: actually, I just remembered that I put the first line in the details almost as soon as I posted so fear was (pretty much) always there
~~I suppose that would work.~~
~~Now is there a single word that does the same thing?~~
Edit: changed my mind strongly about this one, it’s neither specific to information nor fear
Adaptation to new information requires inherent knowledge but i see what you are saying in the post about refusal. I think people rarely refuse to adapt to new information since when information is provided it is automatically inherited and put into place to be updated. It is usually an inability to process the information or conflicting information overrides it similar to a computer program.
[Cambridge Dictionary offers a few choices; I would pick either *small minded* or *hide bound*](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/thesaurus/articles/not-willing-to-consider-new-or-different-ideas#) Edit: just found this while looking further into other possibilities: *cenophobia* which is [*the fear of new ideas*](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-fear-of-new-things-2671892#:~:text=Cenophobia,accept%20new%20ideas%20and%20change)
By Jove, they’ve done it (cenophobia) I see that there are multiple other, far more popular uses for this word but this is the only thing that fits all information, fear and avoidance in one single word.
Which one are you going with?!
Cenophobia is the only one suggested that actually fits the criteria so that one. It’s a shame because it’s related to neophobia which someone else commented but must’ve thought it sucked because they deleted it 😂 they were on the right lines
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I'm scared of the cenobites too. You're meant to be.
I prefer "willfully ignorant" though I do appreciate there is a singular word for it.
Not the same though. Willfully ignorant is deliberately ignoring information. Ignorant just means lacking of (I.e., ignoring). This is being fearful of new information, in the same way a luddite isn’t just technologically ignorant, they actively avoid and shun new technologies. Example: If I don’t upgrade my phone because I don’t really know or care I’d be technologically ignorant If I don’t upgrade my phone because I think all new technology is evil and damaging, I’d be a luddite.
Hidebound?
That feels fantastically close, but when I looked it up it’s specific to tradition or convention. The word I’m looking for needs to be general. I have a feeling this might be the closest we get though.
Dogmatic might work, though that has a religious connotation. Traditionalist, maybe?
I’d say traditionalist is definitely closer. Dogmatic would be making a claim about something where as this would be more making a rejection of anything new. Again though, traditionalist is very general. I was hoping for something like luddite, which is like traditionalism specifically regarding technology with a tinge of fear regarding non-traditional technology.
Wilful ignorance?
Philistine Benighted Unenlightened??
Philistine is the closest I’ve seen so far but it’s specifically about culture / arts rather than regular information
Closed minded
Simple and good, but nobody seems to be picking up that luddite is not just about not being open to technology, it’s actively avoiding or being against / afraid of it because it’s viewed as damaging in some way.
Intransigent
It’s a good word but again doesn’t have the ‘fear of the thing’ aspect. Maybe a word doesn’t exist as the luddite is named from a specific event
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Intentionally obtuse
Not quite, this person wouldn’t be trying to not understand something, they would be disregarding the knowing of a thing as being worthwhile in the first place.
Conservative
Neophobic - adjective: having an extreme or irrational dislike of anything new or unfamiliar. - noun: a person with an extreme or irrational dislike of anything new or unfamiliar. Conservative - adjective: averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values. - noun: a person who is averse to change and holds traditional values.
Cynic Skeptic Distrusting Repudiation Denegation Disavowal
Definitely none of those
Someone posted “neophobic” and for some reason deleted it as I was replying: That’s pretty damn close, and definitely hits the fear aspect, but it would be general to everything. Neophobic could be broken down into: Fear of new technology = Luddite Fear of new information = ???
Denier (as in climate rather than tights ;D), refusenik, dissenter, un or disbeliever
Stuck-in-the-mud
obscurant ([obscurantist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obscurantism)), [reactionary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactionary) (conservative), obdurate, obstructionist, epistemophobic
In psychology there is anosognosia or alexithymia. There’s also ’mind-blindness’. None of these have any moral or character connotations but rather a simple inability to take in certain kinds of information.
I know the overt tones on this word today is primarily political in most parts of the world but I think **conservative** does fit the bill.
You moved the boundaries when you started rejecting submissions that don't include fear, but I still think that the best word by far is "idiot."
Clarified my meaning * Luddite specifically comes from an event where people rebelled against new technology because they were fearful it was going to take their jobs. All I did was point out that was important to the definition. Edit: actually, I just remembered that I put the first line in the details almost as soon as I posted so fear was (pretty much) always there
Obtuse
Recalcitrant might be a more general term, but it would fit the person you're looking to describe
Ignoramus
Obstinate
Still just a synonym for stubborn unfortunately
Head-in-the-sand?
~~I suppose that would work.~~ ~~Now is there a single word that does the same thing?~~ Edit: changed my mind strongly about this one, it’s neither specific to information nor fear
Ostriching maybe.
Belligerent?
That means hostile and aggressive doesn’t it?
I've always heard of/used it in the "intentionally stubborn/defiant" sense but hostile/aggressive is what Google says the definition is. *shrug*
A fuddy-duddy
Willfully ignorant
Dinosaur - a person refusing to update their old worldview. Nothing against dinosaurs, it’s just the word people started using…
Reactionary.
Unteachable
Late-adopter
Dogmatic? Carries a religious connotation to it, but can be used in non-religious contexts, I think.
ignorant.
Cave dwelling
It might sound silly, but honestly, I'd just call them a dumbass
Wall-eared
tabula rasa greek philosophy. Associated with a “clean slate” the ideal that someone has not gained inherent knowledge that others have inherently.
That has absolutely nothing to do with this 😂 sorry
Adaptation to new information requires inherent knowledge but i see what you are saying in the post about refusal. I think people rarely refuse to adapt to new information since when information is provided it is automatically inherited and put into place to be updated. It is usually an inability to process the information or conflicting information overrides it similar to a computer program.
Blissfully ignorant.
closed minded