O to have an open mind. . .

[Tulkas12]

Anyone ever get the feeling they are being decieved every time someone tells you to have an open mind. as far as I'm concerned there is no such thing. I think what it really is, is a way to force someone into a similar line of thinking as you. Your naturally insinuating that the person you are talking with is either a bigot or some other form of "closed minded" thus bullying them into changing their mind.

In a argumentative sense the phrase has no reality. No one is open-minded anyways. No one comes to a discussion without biases. It is impossible to believe otherwise. In the end of analyzing the phras and its uses. I can ony feel its a discussion dropper because it basically says, "please let me win the argument", and is the end of relevant evidence.

 

[usarmy18]

I've gotten that same feeling several times in the past couple of hours. Like you said, usually when someone says that they're implying that they're better and smarter then you and that you're a narrow minded fool. Atleast that's how it comes across to me.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

though i believe it isnt possible to have a completely open mind, i.e. your not going to convince me its ok to kill a toddler, i do think that it is possible to be open-minded to an extent.

for instance, before my senior year, i thought that all the gangsta kids at my school we're idiots. it wasnt that i never talked to em its just that i hadnt met one. then one day i met this guy named kenny and was proven wrong. now if i hadnt been open-minded i would have never made that friend just because he is different.

plus i dont see how someone could think they are being called a bigot just because someone said to be open-minded.

close-minded people are the only real danger left to man at this point. change=good for the most part

 

[vbraun]

One can be more open-minded than another.

 

[ainwood]

Moderator Action: Given the recent threads here, this looks suspiciously trollish in nature.

Take care with what you post.

 

[usarmy18]

plus i dont see how someone could think they are being called a bigot just because someone said to be open-minded.

I, atleast, was saying that usually when someone tells another person to be open minded in a debate, it's because the person is sticking to their beliefs thus it's implied to the aforementioned person that his beliefs are dimwitted or he's ignorant.

 

[Tulkas12]

though i believe it isnt possible to have a completely open mind, i.e. your not going to convince me its ok to kill a toddler, i do think that it is possible to be open-minded to an extent.

for instance, before my senior year, i thought that all the gangsta kids at my school we're idiots. it wasnt that i never talked to em its just that i hadnt met one. then one day i met this guy named kenny and was proven wrong. now if i hadnt been open-minded i would have never made that friend just because he is different.

plus i dont see how someone could think they are being called a bigot just because someone said to be open-minded.

close-minded people are the only real danger left to man at this point. change=good for the most part

Yes, but both are misnomers aren't they? I mean the whole idea is silly. What you mean by being open minded wasn't how its used. It can be used as a way of saying don't be pre-judgmental, but its not very often, and it is used as an insinuation of ignorance.

Btw in your own statement you show why people feel if they aren't being "open minded" they are bigot. This is simple enough. . . If you're not open-minded you're what? Thats right. . ."closed minded". . .. . .

Now read the last 2 lines of your post.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

well yes, one can resort to that claim but i dont think thats always the case

i also think that beliefs are meant to be challenged and if they arent then why do people believe them.

 

[tomsnowman123]

I agree with what has been said. Humans will always have certain biases and morals they don't go against, but there are people out there who are more willing to listen to both sides of the argument than others. I think "closed-minders" often jump to conclusions, and support their side, often without hearing evidence of the other. I like to consider myself open minded, I always try to hear out both sides of the argument. Having said that, it can be hard to change my views.

 

[Tulkas12]

One can be more open-minded than another.

No they cannot. They can be less pre-judgemental. The nature of being "open minded" is a human paradox.

 

[Tulkas12]

I agree with what has been said. Humans will always have certain biases and morals they don't go against, but there are people out there who are more willing to listen to both sides of the argument than others. I think "closed-minders" often jump to conclusions, and support their side, often without hearing evidence of the other. I like to consider myself open minded, I always try to hear out both sides of the argument. Having said that, it can be hard to change my views.

No, you like to be veiwed as less pre-judgemental. That being that you like the idea you try not to form an opinion before hearing evidence. This is positive trait, I think we can all agree, even if we all fail at it from time to time.


Again its not the definitions of the words I dislike, its the usage.

 

[Elrohir]

Generally, when someone tells you to have an open mind, they mean have an open mind to their ideas. And it's usually a one-way deal; you should be open to their beliefs, but if you try to talk to them about yours, then you're being intolerant and close minded again.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

Yes, but both are misnomers aren't they? I mean the whole idea is silly. What you mean by being open minded wasn't how its used. It can be used as a way of saying don't be pre-judgmental, but its not very often, and it is used as an insinuation of ignorance.

Btw in your own statement you show why people feel if they aren't being "open minded" they are bigot. This is simple enough. . . If you're not open-minded you're what? Thats right. . ."closed minded". . .. . .

Now read the last 2 lines of your post.

i said that close minded people are a danger. are all close minded people bigots? no. are all bigots close-minded people? yes

i didnt not say that all close-minded people are bigots. sry if it came off that way. i was just saying that i think that being completely closed minded is wrong.

i know that wording doesnt make sense. i have no problem with people being firm in their belief, its when people blindly follow those beliefs without ever thinking that i get really annoyed.

for instance: i have more respect for a man who converts to a religion than a boy. because that would mean the man probably looked into the religion and decided thats what he believed. now the boy is going to be raised thinking that nothing else is conceivable.

if you have any questions on my opinion just ask. i cant think entirely straight right now. i need sleep

 

[Tulkas12]

Generally, when someone tells you to have an open mind, they mean have an open mind to their ideas. And it's usually a one-way deal; you should be open to their beliefs, but if you try to talk to them about yours, then you're being intolerant and close minded again.

I know this is generally as it is seen by anyone not in the "open-minded" part of the population.

 

[Tulkas12]

i said that close minded people are a danger. are all close minded people bigots? no. are all bigots close-minded people? yes

i didnt not say that all close-minded people are bigots. sry if it came off that way. i was just saying that i think that being completely closed minded is wrong.

i know that wording doesnt make sense. i have no problem with people being firm in their belief, its when people blindly follow those beliefs without ever thinking that i get really annoyed.

for instance: i have more respect for a man who converts to a religion than a boy. because that would mean the man probably looked into the religion and decided thats what he believed. now the boy is going to be raised thinking that nothing else is conceivable.

if you have any questions on my opinion just ask. i cant think entirely straight right now. i need sleep

Its not just bigotry that the phrase is used to insinuate, its also stubborn ignorance. Its use is very arrogant in nature, because of the values that we choose to celebrate to not be "open minded" has become evil. Even though the idea is silly in the first place. Again no one can be truly open-minded, its tough trying to not judge stuff before you see it at times, much less approach things without any biases.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

im not saying i dont approach an idea without a bias, that is a dumb idea. but to be truly openminded you have to give other opinions their chance to voice themselves. i think you have misjudged openminded people based on a few people who use it wrong.

yes i have seent the people who use it to win an argument but thats not true openmindedness

true openmindedness is the ability to listen and to make your own judgements. i have listened to muslims, atheists, agnostics, jews, and just about every shade between red and blue and asked questions, tried to see why they think why they do. i dont judge them because i know they must truly have a real reason for thinking that way. i would just like to get a taste of everything before i make my choice.

its sort of like tasting everything at a buffet before deciding what you want to eat.

but i will admit i do respect someone who is firm in their beliefs. i just dont like people who cant come up with a reason other than dogma or "my parents taught me that way"

sry if that doesnt make sense

 

[tomsnowman123]

No, you like to be veiwed as less pre-judgemental. That being that you like the idea you try not to form an opinion before hearing evidence. This is positive trait, I think we can all agree, even if we all fail at it from time to time.


Again its not the definitions of the words I dislike, its the usage.

Well, I think being "opened minded" is just kind of a way of paraphrasing this. While I think your technical definition is correct, "open-mind" is just something people have adopted as a way of expressing this.

 

[Tulkas12]

To Dictator,

Again we are talking past each other. Lack of openmindedness implies closed mindedness. Read what you yourself posted about close minded people. Do you see it? You actually made my point.

I'm not very pre-judgemental about things. I was raised that questioning things was a responsibilites of man, especially one' self. I would not call myself something as silly as "open minded".

 

[Tulkas12]

Well, I think being "opened minded" is just kind of a way of paraphrasing this. While I think your technical definition is correct, "open-mind" is just something people have adopted as a way of expressing this.

I think its a paradox, and used in general to badger people. Differing opinions I geuss. The phrase "open-minded" really does imply the opposite of itslef if you lack it.

 

[tomsnowman123]

Again we are talking past each other. Lack of openmindedness implies closed mindedness. Read what you yourself posted about close minded people. Do you see it? You actually made my point.

I'm not very pre-judgemental about things. I was raised that questioning things was a responsibilites of man, especially one' self. I would not call myself something as silly as "open minded".

Ahh... agreed.