Open-Minded

[EnhancedSpirit]

"Openness is sometimes called guru thinking or scientific thinking. We observe and act without intention and observe the results and learn from them. In a pure sense the guru is never surprised because he or she does not presuppose the result, but learns from whatever happens. This does not mean that the guru does not make theories. It does, however mean that the guru does not cling to these theories." Are you open-minded?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I view anyone who holds a belief as being closed minded. I would qualify that by saying that somebody who states that they believe in x but are open to the possibility that they could be wrong, is not holding a belief.

No doubt you believe this.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Not too long ago during an Instructor Training Course for ASHI an friend was paying me a compliment about how I teach First Aid.

"I like the way you constantly think outside of the box" was his observation.

"There's a box?" was my simple reply.

Well the concept took off and during the rest of the ITC the cry "There is no box!" became our mantra.

I would suggest that the truly open minded among us routinely destroy all of the boxes that people use to pigeon hole us as well as others. Instead of blithely dismissing pixies and unicorns, we try to understand where the belief came from and if there is some truth behind the seeming myths. Who knows, maybe the myths are actually true? You'll never know until you OPEN your MIND to the possibilities.

 

[Original Freak]

Open minded...the being able to consider other's opinions and beliefs and the ability to accept others unlike yourself.

Close minded..."I'm right no matter what."

I tried to word this the best I could but I don't know if I did it justice.

 

[Fluffy]

No doubt you believe this.

I am open to the possibility that I might be wrong and therefore I am not holding a belief. I am close minded in other areas, however, where I am unable to make myself open to alternative possiblities because of my personal biases, even despite evidence sometimes. One such area would be paedophilia.

 

[michel]

On the contrary. I think 'intransigence' is an excellent indicator of closed mindedness. Given that, which term would you ascribe to someone who does not believe in Pixies and alien abductions?

Does not believe in, as in refuses to believe in?, or does not believe in as in 'not convinced'?

 

[Melody]

I would suggest that the truly open minded among us routinely destroy all of the boxes that people use to pigeon hole us as well as others. Instead of blithely dismissing pixies and unicorns, we try to understand where the belief came from and if there is some truth behind the seeming myths. Who knows, maybe the myths are actually true? You'll never know until you OPEN your MIND to the possibilities.

I never destroy the box, but I do take things out of the box to dust them off and take another look at them every so often. Sometimes they go right back in the box the way they came out. Sometimes, they don't.

 

[almifkhar]

i think anyone who is fixed in his or her opinion is closed minded
anyone who at the very least considers the other opinion in in paticular looks into the opinion is open minded.

 

[jewscout]

i do not feel that holding a particular belief makes one closed minded. If they hold that belief just because, then yes it does. If they have examined evidence, mulled it over, and given it serious consideration with an open mind and then said, "after all this i believe X" i don't consider that being closed minded.
and simply because people disagree it doesn't necessarily make one or the other closed minded.
i think it depends on each person and the way in which they have arrived at a particular view...

but that's just my personal opinion...i could be wrong

 

[michel]

i do not feel that holding a particular belief makes one closed minded. If they hold that belief just because, then yes it does. If they have examined evidence, mulled it over, and given it serious consideration with an open mind and then said, "after all this i believe X" i don't consider that being closed minded.
and simply because people disagree it doesn't necessarily make one or the other closed minded.
i think it depends on each person and the way in which they have arrived at a particular view...

but that's just my personal opinion...i could be wrong

I agree with you in essence, but your "If they have examined evidence, mulled it over, and given it serious consideration with an open mind and then said, "after all this i believe X" " and then take a stance of refusing to give anyone the opportunity of arguing the point, then surely they are still close minded?

 

[jewscout]

I agree with you in essence, but your "If they have examined evidence, mulled it over, and given it serious consideration with an open mind and then said, "after all this i believe X" " and then take a stance of refusing to give anyone the opportunity of arguing the point, then surely they are still close minded?

agreed and like i said it's different for everybody...