Are you close minded?

[Golfingnut]

When I entered the army in 1966 I was cautious being around others that did not look, talk and believe as I did. I was raised to believe that the world was guided by caucasion Christian Men. Women worked to serve their man, children were to be seen and not heard and so on. I have friends back home that still hold close to these beliefs.
After 22 years in the Army and living all over the world, my open mind became so aware of how wrong my young teachings were. I now have a full life without the restrictions that those old prejudices about races, sexual orientation and faiths bring to the table.
I wish for everyone to open your heart and minds to what is good about others rather than look for ways to shut them out. I found a simplified read about how to recognize a closed mind. Read and decide for yourself. There is good all over the world.
People Unsure of Beliefs Are More Close-Minded | LiveScience (http://www.livescience.com/5508-people-unsure-beliefs-close-minded.html)


Lou

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

It's not a matter of being closed minded or open minded in general. It's about being open or closed minded about specific things.

I am very closed minded when it comes to murder, rape and abuse of children. I am definitely against them and my mind is pretty much closed to alternate views.

I can however be open minded about many other things.

It's surprising to read that people who are less secure in their beliefs are more closed minded. The fact you truly believe in something, basically says that your mind is closed to alternatives. Pretty much the opposite of what I believe is true.

Many people and organizations try to promote "open mindedness as a positive trait. How many of you are willing to open your mind to the teachings and beliefs of NAMBLA. If you're not, like me, you might be considered closed minded.

[2BNTV]

I've had my morning coffee so here goes.

I think this an individual thing from person to person.
1. Some people flock to a religion, that see things in black and white, and don't allow for shades of gray. It's either right or wrong. They literally intepret the Bible in that manner.
2. I don't think anyone can be open or closed minded, about everything. Some people know what's right for them, and stick to it. I like to think that, people look in terms, of shades of grey, as there are few absolute answers.
3. I think some people have an overpowering type personality, and are strong in their convictions. Whoever disagrees with their point of view, is going to be in an argument. I tend to avoid this type of person.

Random observations:
1. You can't open a closed mind.
2. A person convince against their will, is of the same opinion still.
3. Agree to disagree respectfully.
4. If number 3 fails, "don't let pople rent space in your head" That's them, this is me, and the twain shall not meet.

Life is too short to be too little. :smiley:

[Golfingnut]

I posted this poorly. What I was thinking when I found this article, was how some folks lock onto an opinion and will not hear and ponder on the opposite side of an issue. To me, when you are positive you are always right is well, not very open minded. Also, when some have their minds made up on issues based on the other persons race, sex or religion and so much of that is with us every day. If you don't at least give the other an honest consideration you are not open minded.

[Polar Bear]

I am close-minded regarding what I consider to be good and evil. I try to be open-minded about all else, including those things I have strong feelings about.

[joerocker]

Everyone carries biases. To an extent, we're all closed minded. It's built in, part of our wiring. And as always, there are different degrees of open/closed mindedness. The worst is what's learned in childhood. It's very hard to shake that. Religion, nationalism, submission to authority, it's all taught at an early age. For a reason.

Good luck trying to get people to change at our age. Most beliefs are locked in at this stage of life.

[billethkid]

"close minded" is a subjective position.

I don't know what constitutes being open or closed. I do know, appreciate and understand differences of opinion, beliefs or positions which are as varied as there are individuals. And in many instantances there is no right or wrong.

[TrudyM]

I like to think I am open minded, I have over time given data changed my mind on many issues. Took me awhile to realize daddy wasn't always right.
But I realize on some issues as others have stated I am not open to accept a different opinion. I refuse to accept a bad childhood as a defense for wife (or husband) beating or child abuse.

[rubicon]

First, I would ask how one defines "being closed minded"? Second, I would ask who is calling me "closed minded"? Third, I would be curious as to what set of words or actions someone would suggest that would mean that I was no longer closed minded. Fourth, I would want to know how one defines being open minded and exactly hat that means.

The allegation of your are closed minded is argumentative, denotes a negative and hence a closed ended question?

When it comes to matters of ethics and moral issues, religion, political beliefs, commitments I favor the closed minded because I want to know where they stand up front and appreciate they not hem and haw.

Some of more distinguish closed minded people and I mean that literally are the so called elite intellectual educators in our universities who deem that their intellect is so grand that they exclude all other opinions. This body of educator has done more to shut down free speech than any other group in this country.

Some issues because of their nature or perhaps a bad experience shape one's opinion

Visually people can also be accused of being closed minded such as I don't like the look of that dish Ugh

btk nailed it when it stated close mindedness is subjective

[buggyone]

"When it comes to matters of ethics and moral issues, religion, political beliefs, commitments I favor the closed minded because I want to know where they stand up front and appreciate they not hem and haw."

I cannot say I agree with the above statement about favoring someone who is closed minded about moral issues, religion, or political beliefs.

For example: when I was growing up in Minneapolis, the moral issue of gay or lesbian was not even discussed - to my knowledge, anyhow. Now, with it being discussed, I see gays or lesbians as just another lifestyle and that they should be given equal rights in all aspects of life as hetrosexual people.

Regarding politics, if a person is not willing to discuss and possibly learn from other political viewpoints, I believe that person is not worthy to vote.

We have to be open minded (and I am talking respecting - not converting to them) about religion, too. While we have Christians and Jewish here in The Villages, there are Muslim closeby (right down Hwy 27 is a mosque) and other religions. Respect them.

[rubicon]

Again when it comes to ethical moral religious political views to suggest that one who is not willing to discuss these issues is closed minded is mistaken on at least two counts. First such a person assumes that this closed minded person never explored other points of view. Secondly this person may not wish to enter an exchange because they do not wish to engage in a discussion they recognize may lead to unpleasant discussion. Essentially universities have had such a tight lid on free speech for so long political correctness is a way of life.

Let's take for instance the issue of gay lesbian. Anyone who voices an opposition can only be doing so because they are bigoted or homophobic. My response to such an accuser is " now who is being closed minded"?

Too often people say they are seeking understanding but they simply want agreement and again why all the aforementioned topics and a few more can never be freely and fully discussed.

[buggyone]

First such a person assumes that a closed minded person never explored other points of view.
__________________________________________________ _________________

That is exactly right. One who has never explored other points of view is certainly closed minded. If the person has explored other points of view and is still of their original viewpoint, they are not closed minded since they have looked at both sides.

Regarding the gay and lesbian example, if a person has fairly looked at the civil rights issue, they cannot deny that gays and lesbians should have the same rights as all people. You can certainly disagree with that lifestyle but it is bigoted not to say they should not have the same civil rights as anyone else.

On a political level, a closed minded person is one who says they would never, under any circumstances, vote for a (woman, person of color, Democrat, Republican, Catholic, Mormon, etc). Explore all issues and vote accordingly.

[twinklesweep]

.... Essentially universities have had such a tight lid on free speech for so long political correctness is a way of life....

Too often people say they are seeking understanding but they simply want agreement and again why all the aforementioned topics and a few more can never be freely and fully discussed.

I cannot, of course, speak for rubicon's university experience, but mine was exactly the opposite! The "tight lid on free speech" was a reality, right through high school. There was no opportunity for free speech; we didn't even know of the concept, and any discussion of the First Amendment in social studies and civics classes in terms of free speech was theoretical and historical, not contemporary. (Does anyone remember civics classes? Sadly they don't exist today.)

It wasn't until I got to college that I discovered the world of free speech, of freedom of open discussion, of diversity of opinion, and more important of acceptance of diversity of opinion. My college years were eye-opening; it was the first time in my life that I experienced the opportunity, with encouragement, from contemporaries AND from teachers, to go out and learn. I look back on those years as among the best in my life!

However, I could not agree more with rubicon's second statement above. By and large we live by the standard of "Don't confuse me with the facts; my mind is already made up." Yes, there are countless topics that are best left untouched. There is, of course, much "preaching to the choir," but IMHO this represents more the insecurities of the "preachers" and the "preachees" than anything else, that is, those who accept the beliefs of others as their own from the point of view of strength in numbers.

You know the old joke about childbearing being hereditary: If your grandparents had no children, then chances are your parents won't, and neither will you.... So often we internalize the values of our parents, if our parents have successfully served as our role models. A significant example of this may be seen in #8 of the "Top Ten Anti-Semitic/Anti-Israel Slurs" recently released by the Simon Wiesenthal Center concerning a school district in New York State. Note in particular this comment: 'When informed about the anti-Semitic behavior, one school official responded, “Your expectations for changing inbred prejudice may be a bit unrealistic.”' Something to think about (should we choose to)....

http://www.wiesenthal.com/atf/cf/%7B54d385e6-f1b9-4e9f-8e94-890c3e6dd277%7D/TOP-TEN-2013.PDF

[OnTheCourse]

So true. It's so hard to overcome differences in opinion, and beliefs.... especally when, its all you know in a lot of ways.

[Villages PL]

When I entered the army in 1966 I was cautious being around others that did not look, talk and believe as I did. I was raised to believe that the world was guided by caucasion Christian Men.

I think the world was guided by all kinds of men, not just caucasion Christian men. And, many years ago, large families were common so women were mainly preoccupied with child rearing. That came under the heading of "division of labor". Men had their duties to fulfil and women had theirs. It worked well for that time in history. It wasn't bad, in my opinion, it was just based on practical considerations. It was just the way things worked during that period of time.

Women worked to serve their man,....

Yes, that's true, but that's only looking at it from one side of the equation. The same could be said for many men who worked to serve their women.

......children were to be seen and not heard and so on.

Again, I think that was due to large families. For example, six kids at the dinner table can be quite disruptive if not kept under strict control. My father, one of six kids, said that talking was not allowed at the dinner table.

After 22 years in the Army and living all over the world, my open mind became so aware of how wrong my young teachings were. I now have a full life without the restrictions that those old prejudices about races, sexual orientation and faiths bring to the table.

Can you be sure that you wouldn't have come to the same conclusions even
without living all over the world?

I think prejudices, to some extent, served a protective function. People just naturally avoid lifestyles and people that are unfamiliar to them. Then over time, people need to prove themselves worthy of trust.

I wish for everyone to open your heart and minds to what is good about others rather than look for ways to shut them out. I found a simplified read about how to recognize a closed mind. Read and decide for yourself. There is good all over the world.
People Unsure of Beliefs Are More Close-Minded | LiveScience (http://www.livescience.com/5508-people-unsure-beliefs-close-minded.html)

I agree that there is good in others that we often don't realize. On the other hand, there may be bad in others that we often don't realize until it's too late. (Think about all the violence that takes place on a daily basis.) Sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry.
Although, it largely depends on the situation.