O to have an open mind. . .

[Mott1]

I am open-minded and theres nothing you can say to change my mind!

 

[Tulkas12]

I am open-minded and theres nothing you can say to change my mind!

yep lol 10 chars

i never use it to mean someone isnt liberal enough

Define what open minded means to you dictator? Define close minded while you're at it. Prove to me your not basing it on liberal biases. Your examples of open-mindedness were liberal in nature.

Moderator Action: Kindly use the edit function rather than make multiple posts like this.


Merged.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

i am willing to listen to others and defend my position.

closemindedness is not being willing to even listen to other viewpoints.

 

[Tulkas12]

i am willing to listen to others and defend my position.

closemindedness is not being willing to even listen to other viewpoints.

This is going to take all night so I'm just going to let it go dictator. Others when reading will hopefully see it, which judging by some other's remarks, they are seeing it.

 

[Moss]

Tulkas...you don't have much of a grasp on the English language, or the use of words in common speech, do you?

You're argument is flawed...people can be open-minded because someone with an open-mind simply means "A mind receptive to different opinions and ideas"

I don't even think you can argue against the well known fact that people can, and often times are receptive to differences in opinion.

Sure, you can dig deep into technical BS or go all philisophical on the question, but one can never go wrong with the simple, English definition of a word. People can be open-minded because of what the word means...it's as simple as that.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

i chalk it up to no sleep for now, but maybe i'll see you're point after i sleep, after all i think i see what you're

 

[Tulkas12]

Tulkas...you don't have much of a grasp on the English language, or the use of words in common speech, do you?

You're argument is flawed...people can be open-minded because someone with an open-mind simply means "A mind receptive to different opinions and ideas"

I don't even think you can argue against the well known fact that people can, and often times are receptive to differences in opinion.

Sure, you can dig deep into technical BS or go all philisophical on the question, but one can never go wrong with the simple, English definition of a word. People can be open-minded because of what the word means...it's as simple as that.

I have a great grasp on it. This is my point. . . the words are not only badly worded but have multiple meanings. It is so ingrained in us it goes unnoticed but this is wrong. You come to form your opinions by knowing others, this is fundamentally true in humans. Therefore you come to view other's opinions by the formation from the first you meet, your parents, etc....This "closes" your mind as you generally come to your conclusions. Yes you can listen to an opinion, but you are not coming to listen to the opinion with an "open-mind". You are coming with a lifetime oof experiences and biases and then judge the opinion you liste to after you compare to yours. Therefore there is no such thing as an open-mind, except in children.

Again the issue is that the term is usually used to badger a person and worse yet is used to elevate one person above another one in our society, because of our societies treasured values. If it was only used as you say then it would just be bad wording and I'd be indifferent to it.

 

[blackheart]

So I'm guessing no one can be a bigot or racist, it's just that we're not open enough to their views?

 

[Tulkas12]

So I'm guessing no one can be a bigot or racist, it's just that we're not open enough to their views?

Obviously they can be a bigot or a racist. Whether you are open to those veiws is up to you. I for am not. I think you should prolly read past the first 8 posts to get a real feel of what the thread was actually about.

 

[blackheart]

Obviously they can be a bigot or a racist. Whether you are open to those veiws is up to you. I for am not. I think you should prolly read past the first 8 posts to get a real feel of what the thread was actually about.

I read it, and most of it was arguing semantics back and forth. Moss summed it up quite nicely though. But I'll recognize that it is sometimes use for one group to make an opposing group look bad by claiming them to not having an open-mind.

 

[Tulkas12]

I read it, and most of it was arguing semantics back and forth. Moss summed it up quite nicely though. But I'll recognize that it is sometimes use for one group to make an opposing group look bad by claiming them to not having an open-mind.

It is my belief that it is the intention of the phrase. Moss just did exactly the same thing dictator did. He fails to see the inherent paradox of the idea of a open mind. One cannot have such a thing it is silly. You have your opinions, how can you consider anyone elses without referencing your own. "A mind receptive to diferent idea and opinions" could be summed up as a good listener, or thinker. Open mindedness is often instead of used as a measure of one's "modern liberalism". It is a political phrase used for attacking or defending. It is a very effective instrument in our lexicon, even though the idea itself is silly.

 

[Moss]

I have a great grasp on it. This is my point. . . the words are not only badly worded but have multiple meanings. It is so ingrained in us it goes unnoticed but this is wrong. You come to form your opinions by knowing others, this is fundamentally true in humans. Therefore you come to view other's opinions by the formation from the first you meet, your parents, etc....This "closes" your mind as you generally come to your conclusions. Yes you can listen to an opinion, but you are not coming to listen to the opinion with an "open-mind". You are coming with a lifetime oof experiences and biases and then judge the opinion you liste to after you compare to yours. Therefore there is no such thing as an open-mind, except in children.

Again the issue is that the term is usually used to badger a person and worse yet is used to elevate one person above another one in our society, because of our societies treasured values. If it was only used as you say then it would just be bad wording and I'd be indifferent to it.

The fact that you form your ideas from other people and from your own experiences is pretty much the concept behind someone having an open mind. If none of us formed opinions from other people or our own experiences, the term open mind wouldn't be needed because we'd all have no minds. When we enter into a conversation, most people expect that we are at least receptive or open to listening to other viewpoints or opinions...some people are much better at doing that than others...hence, one can be much more open-minded than another. Open-mindedness has nothing to do with having no prior influences and making the decision for yourself, it has everything to do with being able to put your past biases aside and being receptive to another point of view.

 

[GenMarshall]

I guess I can admit that I am close minded and I dont know how to have an open mind. I guess I closed it the moment I returned back to Christianity.

Mainly I dont like to hear criticisms about my own faith, even if I am on the defending side and bombarded with such criticisms and I an not able to change or convince their minds when I try to defend myself and my faith.

I guess thats how I get the "frankly my dear, I dont give a damn" and "What's your problem?" mindset (Though people who are more open minded would oftenly say its more of a "lalalalala I cant hear you")

 

[Azash]

To have an open mind is a rational suggestion to me - and is not associated with the political compass.

 

[ComradeDavo]

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.

I consider myself to have an open-mind, I often go into things not knowing what to expect and open to different possiabilities, and I am always willing to change my opinions and adapt my beliefs.

Of the people I know, most don't seem to have as much as an open-mind as me, though there are a couple of similar people to me who I get on well with and I always think they seem quite open-minded.

 

[Shaihulud]

There is a great deal of difference between having an open mind and holding an opinion. Having an open mind is being objective, that is the ability to stand aside and look at the problem from a different perspective. Being close minded is the inability to be objective, to look at it from anothers perspective other than ones own. Everyone has their own personal opinion, but it takes an open minded person to admit that another persons opinion is better or truthful than his own.

 

[MobBoss]

I have an incredibly open mind. The mere fact that I deign to reply to people around here is proof of that.