Open-Mindedness

i l0ve pe0ple wh0's 0pen minded…

i kinda hate narrow-minded ppl. they really get on my nerves. be open-minded, ppl!

narrow-minded ppl are so irritating. urgh.

Doesn't your annoyance over closed mindedness mean that your own mind is closed to the point of view around which any given closed-minded person's mind is closed?  And more importantly, are you open-minded enough to comprehend that question?

I agree actually. A lot of people who claimed to be open-minded are always shoving off those who are closed-minded, and to me, that seems kinda hypocritical.

If we were truely open-minded, then before judging others, we might consider the possibility that some closed-minded individuals are that way because they really do know everything.

Nobody knows everything. Except god and it's debatable if he even exists.

Close-Mindedness and being judgemental is just a flaw in human nature.

You've probably never even been to Jesus Camp.

I went to Sunday School.

I was just joking.

Given the brilliant complexity of life, I doubt I'm worthy to deem any product of nature a flaw.

so i apologise. i guess i'm a bit of both. depends on the issue being discussed.

HM, I've been pondering your last comment for hours. I think you're spot on (for what that's worth).

Finrod, from you that's worth a bundle.

Erm ... I'm sorry to put a dampner on this.  I agree that open mindedness is a good thing.  But more often than not, the phrase "open minded" is used as a euphamism for liberal.  Now if you are a liberal, then all power to your elbow.  If that's what you believe then fair enough.

But don't live under the illusion, that somehow you are "open minded".  You have already made a choice to reject conservative values (e.g. belief in the traditional family unit ... belief in free markets etc.)

To be truly open minded, you have to also embrace the possibility that maybe, just maybe, having opinions that are "square" might be the most radical decision you ever made.

Open-minded also means uncertain. It's usually not a bad thing to be certain.

"Tradition is the illusion of permanence". With all due respect, I'll think for myself thank you very much.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Sounds like recognition of permanence to me.

You keep thinking, buddy.

I don't know any more though. And I can't tell if you're embracing my comment or shutting it down.

Open-mindedness is a luxury of people who live a life of excess. Everyone else has survival to think about.

I don't think I'm doing either. I honestly find that openmindedness is important for advancement, but tradition is important for security. It makes no sense to completely abandon what works when new ideas have not yet been fully tested in real life situations.

I don't know… open mindedness sounds like a not so bad survival strategy to me. I mean, look at Grizzly Adams.

Could you explain? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I don't see what survival has to do with being open minded. Just because you HAVE to do something, doesn't mean you can't be open minded.

I was talking to HM. Idk if you know that.

Well, he keeps editing his comments, so I couldn't tell. So calm down. I'm just sayin'.

Well, now we're on the subject of open-mindedness vs. tradition. I'm saying that a lot of traditions make sense for sociological stability, they often protect individuals from developing certain societally-corrosive vices, so completely abandoning them for one's own ideas is not always wise. Now I'm not saying it's unwise to challenge old ideas on technology and science, but other subjects have a deep influence long-standing standards of morality, and should be questioned with extreme caution.

I see, well. Let's say you question the old ideas and remain with the new ones, you don't necessarily have to act on them to be open minded do you?

Of course not. That's the caution I'm talking about.

AAhh, I see. That makes sense then.

I'm going back a few hours here, but why on Earth should the word 'liberal' need a euphemism? My dictionary defines it (in part) as 'generous; noble-minded; broadminded; not bound by authority or traditional orthodoxy...'

It hardly strikes me as an unpleasant or offensive word which needs to be replaced in polite conversation by a milder term. 

Good point, Finrod!

Nothing to be ashamed of, for sure.....

I think I am a liberal, is that a problem?

Well, he says that because Conservatives in some parts of the world (probably including his) commonly get accused of being closed-minded because they trust their orthodox traditions, and in the most conservative parts of some nations "Liberal" is basically an insult, especially if you're running for public office, and so less suggestive terms are often used like "open-minded" and "progressive," to soften the reaction. 

He's just trying to stand up for the Tories, even though most people here don't think they're being assaulted.

Really? I thought the other way round, that he was standing up for the labours...;)

well, whatever... in our country you can say liberal, and no one will think it's an insult!!

But most of all, I think that being openminded is no particular side's prerogative. Anyone can be.

Agree, Clara!

Being open-minded in a political way means for me to understand (or at least to try to understand) the reasons of your opponent. It doesn't implicate I have to share them.

agreed

;)

So, 'liberal' can be used as an insult? My, my. I would like to suggest that people who think that it needs a euphemism should remember an old saying I picked up years ago:

'It is better to be thought a fool and to remain silent, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.' 

I'd also suggest that they take a course in English.  

Thanks for your genuinely open-minded stance swissbob.

That's what liberalism ought to be.

Unfortunately, some of the nasty comments on this blog have just demonstrated my point.  I must be shouted down for daring to suggest (rather politely ... I might add) that it is possible to respect traditions.

Incidentally, in terms of respecting traditions, the classic liberal Hayek had much to say on this topic. 

But what would I know, given my limited command of the English language.

I just wanted to test the waters, so see just how open-minded you all really are.

Most of you passed the test!

Can someone be in the position of testing other people's open-mindedness?

Just asking....

I guess the scale would range from expert to naive.

im very open minded

Who shouted him down? And why did he come back in an hour later to make another gleeful comment?  Why do we have to interpret the word 'liberal' in a political sense? Why add the 'cool' emoticon both times? What is his point? Where are the 'nasty' comments? I've read and re-read his comments and he wants to have his cake and eat it.

Not that I intend worrying about these points. 

I think that's the best comment yet. Speaking to Finrod. It made me laugh, but it's also true.

Oh but he said most of us passed the test.....

I wonder.... who did not??

Oooo! I didn't!

You did

I don't think I did. I'm the odd man out on this one.

Why not, Darth? And why not you, Vano? The way his comments read back to me speak much more loudly of egotism than open-mindedness. Especially in the way he just had to comment again an hour later.

And as for what 'passing the test' means... whose test is this, exactly? It's not one I recognise.

Does it meet the standards of his local Testing Institute? Or was it just dreamed up out of his attention-seeking mind (note the self-imposed  'cool' emoticons on both comments)?

Aaii, I'm going back to the maths problem that's driving me crazy.