open mind...what's it all about?

[ecojeanne]

Someone who has an open mind is receptive to new ideas or information.

Being open-minded about something is a willingness to consider that it may be true: it also means considering the possibility that it may be false. A truly open-minded person's mind is open to both possibilities.

Open-mindedness is considered a virtue.

An ability to not dismiss an idea with sneering contempt, simply because it does not fit within your preconceived notions.

Open minded people have views but know that their views do not have to be held by everyone. Open minded people also know that their views can be wrong.

what is your personal definition of an open mind? and do you consider it a virtue?

[HUNT3R]

I think it's a good thing most of the time. Having an open mind, like you say, is being open to new ideas. This means that you'll listen to others, while you agree or not. You'll have other views to compare yours to and then decide whether the way you think is right or to re-think because the other idea makes more sense. So you'll learn a lot more by being open minded rather than just shutting off to other ideas.

It has to be coupled with good judgement though. Being open minded would also mean you're more open to try new things. It's not always a good idea to try something new, as in the case of drugs for instance.

[Gribble]

I consider myself open-minded. However, I require evidence before I'll consider a concept. I don't care how whacky a theory you have, if you can show me something tangible that supports it I'll lend it some credence.

'Course most of the things people bitch at me about for being narrow-minded have absolutely no support. People know something's true because they feel it in their hearts or they had some kind of personal and totally unverifiable experience. In those cases I do sneer and look down.

[shh!]

“Maintaining an open mind is essential when exploring the unknown, but allowing one’s brains to fall out in the process is inadvisable.”

[doppelgaenger]

My friend had an argument with a guy who thinks it is impossible for cowboys or gangstas to be gay, believes Catholicism (lol) is the only acceptable set of religious beliefs, believes Catholicism was the first religion ever, and that the only sensible relationships are with promiscuous people.

[bluesummer]

I'm pretty open minded unless, like Gribble says, someone makes a claim to something that has no credible evidence whatsoever.

I will always listen to and consider someone's point of view, whether I agree with it or not. I'm also a big supporter of the old saying "To each his own." I don't care what other people do or believe really.....because it generally doesn't affect me.

The only thing I can't be open-minded about is things that are hate-based or promote hate, like anti-abortion groups or the KKK. I try to understand them, what sociological or psychological factors are affecting the way they are (and usually come to the conclusion they're too narrow-minded to know better), but I don't 'accept' it.

[DoesntMatter]

The so called "open mindedness" of societies leads to them sucking and being weak and nonproductive. All the greatest societies had national norms and things that were simply acceptable and other things that simply weren't

[IndiReloaded]

In short:

Not all ideas are created equal.

[DoesntMatter]

British Empire, Roman Empire, WWII Germany (sorry but it has to be included), US up until recently, Japan, China now, Soviet Union, all had norms and this worked into their "greatness" (obviously not great in every way!)

[Bokonon]

British Empire, Roman Empire, WWII Germany (sorry but it has to be included), US up until recently, Japan, China now, Soviet Union, all had norms and this worked into their "greatness" (obviously not great in every way!)

Thanks for pointing out that strict belief systems are a crucial part of state control of the populace and inequality. I'm sold.

[DoesntMatter]

Thanks for pointing out that strict belief systems are a crucial part of state control of the populace and inequality.

The belief systems don't have to be "strict" dickhead

[Bokonon]

British Empire, Roman Empire, WWII Germany (sorry but it has to be included), US up until recently, Japan, China now, Soviet Union, all had norms and this worked into their "greatness" (obviously not great in every way!)

The belief systems don't have to be "strict" dickhead

Either way, your idea is flawed in that a lot of screwed over, poor countries have "national norms" and some things are acceptable and others are unacceptable.

Dickhead.

[Junket]

You don't have to be open minded when you can ban people and delete their opinions.

[doppelgaenger]

You don't have to be open minded to not give a damn either.

[Mish]

Someone who has an open mind is receptive to new ideas or information.

Being open-minded about something is a willingness to consider that it may be true: it also means considering the possibility that it may be false. A truly open-minded person's mind is open to both possibilities.

It can be very difficult to accept a point of view that one doesn't believe in. How do you justify it to yourself? Wouldn't it be considered untrue or fake? The maybes in your example are not concrete, they are more like philosophical constructs, elastic and abstract. If accepting these defines an open minded person, then it means the open minded person is not factual and open to confusion.