Open-Mindedness

[Enyo]

Originally Posted by Orangey

Ugghh, I've been called closed-minded this past week because I wouldn't accept as profoundly insightful what was so lovingly termed 'paradox' in a particular theory (dressed up term for internal contradiction). Must I be so open as to accept that which doesn't make sense?

Nope. That's when it becomes "so open-minded that your brains are on the floor".

[kyuuei]

Hm.. I'd like to think of myself as open-minded. I believe Edahn is on to something. It's a blanket phrase for several aspects of life. It could be said that you're closed minded if you're rigid about politics and your opinions on them.. yet this is entirely different than being open-minded about trying new things like food. It's a convenient way to describe a general way of thinking toward things that we don't hold close to us yet, and to insult those that refuse to incorporate what we hold close into their minds since it's not close to them.

[placebo]

Open-mindedness to me is having a certain amount of curiosity, enough to be willing to learn about things before judging. Having few prejudices. Being able to observe the opinions of others without subjectively taking them on or reacting to them first handedly. I like openminded people... but not so openminded their brains fall out. At least be able to form thoughts of your own based on what you've observed. Being able to arrive to conclusions deductively.

[Anja]

To me open-mindedness is defined like this:

When someone offers you a new idea, consider it. If it doesn't have any relevance to you after questioning, you can reject it or accept it or you can save it for later consideration under the light of new information.

All this can be, and is best, accomplished without passing judgment.

That's my idea of open-mindedness.

It may require two other qualities - the ability to be honest with one's self and the motivation to practice it.

If one has ideas or personal values that he feels defensive about, it is very difficult to be open-minded about anything that contradicts them.

I think what some are discussing here isn't about open-mindedness, it's about who is "right." That's about power and control, not about learning.

[sleeptowin]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

That's just being silly and "over the top." (quotes added for teh ESL.) Conviction is one thing, and I admire it, but recklessness is for the neurotic and the drunk. Also, controlling people can go ahead and "get F'd" whether they have conviction or not.

What about being convicted to cause of being drunk? No, I'll stop now, I'm just being stupid now.

Yes, I also admire conviction.

What I really meant to ask was this, what if someone wants to start a band for instance, and they want to make it big, and they are willing to try any kind of band to make that happend? Even though it might not initially be the kind of music they set out to play from the beginning.

[Jack Flak]

Originally Posted by sleeptowin

What I really meant to ask was this, what if someone wants to start a band for instance, and they want to make it big, and they are willing to try any kind of band to make that happend? Even though it might not initially be the kind of music they set out to play from the beginning.

I would ask if they are an artist or simply a performer, wanting to play or sing. If you're an artist, and you compromise, you fail.

[Grayscale]

people say they want open-minded, what ive found they usually mean is people who will not be judgmental of them and open to their interests and opinions. sometimes this is a way of referring to more modern social-political viewpoints.

true openminded-ness is more often than not a disliked trait in our society since it often leads one to interests and activities beyond the norm. i am going to pick on uber here and point him out as an example.

i have fairly widespread interests, so inevitably some of them make people uneasy, this is what ive noticed.

[sleeptowin]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

I would ask if they are an artist or simply a performer, wanting to play or sing. If you're an artist, and you compromise, you fail.

I agree fully.

people say they want open-minded, what ive found they usually mean is people who will not be judgmental of them and open to their interests and opinions. sometimes this is a way of referring to more modern social-political viewpoints.

true openminded-ness is more often than not a disliked trait in our society since it often leads one to interests and activities beyond the norm. i am going to pick on uber here and point him out as an example.

i have fairly widespread interests, so inevitably some of them make people uneasy, this is what ive noticed.

Well said.

[mlittrell]

for me open mindedness means open to admit your right, to admit your wrong, to be open to anyones ideas and views with no bias

[animenagai]

Originally Posted by mlittrell

for me open mindedness means open to admit your right, to admit your wrong, to be open to anyones ideas and views with no bias

i agree. open mindedness doesn't mean that they'll accept any idea, it's that they'll entertain any idea. like jack flack said, if you've got a got reason to believe what you do, there's no need to change it. however, if someone brings up good points against your position, an open minded person should try and push his own views aside for the moment and weigh up the arguments.