The movie "The Matrix" was a big hit. Its stunning special effects,
combined with a cast of some big names (mostly notably Keanu Reeves and
Laurence Fishburne) drew a lot of moviegoers.
  One or two years after its release, though, the movie has left a legacy in
modern culture because of its thought-provoking concept. The idea is not a
new one, but "The Matrix" was what it took to get the public thinking about
it: What if the world as we know it is fake?
  For those who haven't seen the movie, "The Matrix" is about a man (Reeves)
who suddenly discovers his world is a fabrication, a fake existence created
to prevent him from seeing the real world. Once he learns this, he has a
choice: He can choose to join a small band of freedom fighters that wants to
fight the Matrix so others can know the truth, or he can go back into his
fake reality and forget he ever suspected otherwise. Bear in mind, the "real
world" as it exists in the movie is a bleak place, even less pleasant than
the Matrix world that everyday humans know.
  Of course, for the movie, he chooses to know the truth (because otherwise
there would be no more movie after that). But the whole issue raises an
interesting point in real life. What's more valuable: Truth or happiness? If
you could learn that your whole world is fake, would you want to know, even
if it meant that you'd be less happy? Or would you decide that since you
can't do anything about it anyway, you'd rather just cling to your false
beliefs?
  This is another of those personal questions which will vary from person to
person. Different people will make different choices based on their values.
People who value the truth will choose to know it. This is the "noble"
decision. Meanwhile, those who value their own comfort above all else, will
choose to stay fooled.
  Indeed, many people actively seek to escape truth. This is part of why some
people get so caught up in fiction like movies and books: It helps them
escape from their own lives, which are not pleasing to them. It's also why
many people take drugs: A drunk or stoned person feels better about the
world, and tends to forget their problems. Drugs are often a form of escape
for people who just can't stand reality. So although the question was brought
up by a fictional movie, it has real-life applications as well.
  In the end, everyone must decide for their own selves. My personal slant is
that if you don't know about a problem, you'll never be able to fix it. There
are many problems in this world beyond our control, but the first step to
being able to help in any small way at all is to know that there's something
wrong in the first place. Knowing the truth may allow you to help someone,
someday, somehow. On the other hand, knowing the truth doesn't hurt anyone,
except yourself.