Old minds
 

We train our minds to totally believe what we feel and think by simple repetition of what we bring into our body and mind on a daily basis.

Be carful not to fill your mind with negative thought or you will become negative.

If you absorb the opinions of one cable news only, you will believe that viewpoint and refuse to consider a second opinion.

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2...ype=blogs&_r=0

I am going to consider every response, not as fact or correct, but as sincere in the mind of the poster.

Luigi
:wave: Good morning Joe

I couldn't agree more with this post. The key for me is to attempt to keep an open mind and recognize, in many instances, there is no right or wrong answer. It's simply one persons opinion. When another person is talking I try to fully listen to what they have to say. When I see a posting on this forum, I try to fully read what the person is trying to convey. It took me many years to recognize as I read or listened, I actually engaged my brain to work on a response. As I'm working on a response to give my opinion, I can't fully appreciate what the other person is trying to say.

Putting my listening ears on and my mouth not engaged, I've learned so very much from people I thought were wrong.

I try to keep an open mind but not if it includes watching a certain TV channel named for a crafty animal.

Funny! :)

I completely agree. Years ago when I worked for a doctor, he said the same thing about people recovering from surgery. Those that wanted to get better and had a positive attitude, actually did recover faster.
Part of the problem, I think, is that if an opinion is written, the reader reads it with their own opinion and not always the way it was intended.

"The Very Fact That One Accuses You Of"
 

Old minds also have the benefit of experience of seeing the same old platitudes recycled. Some old minds recognize that it always "the singer and not the song. Keeping an open mind doesn't always mean you change your mind. there are very basic truths in this world and the more naïve allow singers to be creative in their song a song that distorts these truths and amounts to bupkus

Too often and especially in todays American people do not seek the truth they demand agreement only, and if you disagree their argument is that you are a ------- (insert your adjective). We have lost our ability to be deep and critical thinkers and we treat important subject matters in the same way we like our coffee instant/fast. The very fact that someone accuses you of not having an open mind" is an indicator of manipulation and I "äin't" buying into that line.

In essence keeping an open mind does not always equate to truth because of the power of manipulation especially in this day of advance technology think the internet, world government that peddle misinformation and news media that control news based on their personal ideology and not fact.

The days of Joe Friday have long disappeared to our detriment

I switch back and forth among news sources and think there is some very good information to be had from ALL of them and much bias.....from all of them. I don't completely agree with ANY of them. I find good and evil in all classes of people and all religions and all political parties. I am a fiscal conservative who firmly accepts the evolution of animals and a person whose faith in God falters at times, but finds warmth in the faith of others. I felt stem cell research was very needed and thankful that using infant embryo's is no longer used. Like most people who have reached 70, I am very complicated and have a lot of emotional bumps and bruises and maybe a lot of misplaced sympathies and misplaced skepticisms. I highly respect the value of work and the independence that it usually brings but I know that many cannot take care of themselves...EVER.


But I feel that spotting a fool OR an angel is much easier as I grow older.

Very good post and truly what so many of us need. I fear to many of us take our direction from others opinions without hearing all and coming to what we believe to be the right answere. I do miss Joe Friday.

Totally ignore ALL cable news channels. They are, in my opinion, one of the major sources of divide in this country.

READ...so many piecs of information out there. I am 1/2 through BULLY PULPIT, a great book on the presidencies of T Roosevelt and Taft..great insights on today actually and it is real history. Just finished THE EVERYTHING STORE, a very interesting and insightful look at Amazon who are revamped our retail in this country.

Read THE ECONOMIST and if a particular issue has interest for you READ everything you can find, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY read views that are opposite of yours.

Television, to me, is a great venue for sports and breaking news. And if you just must watch, at least do a thorough check on that guy or gal that is presenting to you...most times you will discover a bias.

Cable news, for me, is a detriment to really understanding what is happening, and staying positive after allowing your mind to be "controlled" by these outlets is pretty much impossible as you then see the real world.

I don't think you can be positive unless you take the time to insure you are informed (of all sides of an issue) and open if you hear a new viewpoint. It is easy to get caught up in a "movement", a "rah rah" presentation but if you actually know all sides and why everyone doesn't feel the same way you can be positive and all that negativity you feel when someone disagrees with you will not be present.

Besides, the learning process itself is a positive experience

WOW, with that lead in line, apologize as I have not understood Bucco. I misjudged where you came up with your opinions and will read your posts more carefully in the future. Thanks for sharing this.

Well hopefully you see that quick judgements are usually not good judgements.

There are posters on TOTV with whom I have very little in common as relates to issues, HOWEVER, I have come to know that they are not influenced by the "cable news cycles" who strive for viewers, not accuracy. I read everything these posters might post because, at least in my mind, they are not mouthing some person spewing their bias, or stressing the "national enquirer" news.

These folks have either changed my mind on some things or if not changed, softened my stance.

Bucco, thanks for putting this so succinctly. You are right on the money about the news channels. Even the big three have their bias. None of them are to be trusted to give all sides of an issue.

My neighbor and good friend is an example of how controlling they can be. She never has anything on TV but the ONE channel that fits her political preference. Never researches an article from different viewpoints. We maintain our friendship by never discussing politics! (Which is fine, by the way.)

It's tiring to do all that research and thinking, and easier to have some cable channel do it for you. I think that's the pit a lot of people fall into, including myself sometimes.

The typed word is very different from face to face. I could not come up with a more $&)(;&$)( person than Richie L. Then we meet, had a conversation and Wala no more arguments. We still had major disagreements, but no arguments.

Well, Bucco and Rubicon, it would appear that if we get along and don't argue, that means the kiss of death to a thread. This subject may not be earth shattering, but a page and one half and Boom, to the dust bin. Your both smart guys, what does this mean? I am very confused.

Golfingnut

Thank you for your post. Good advice. In future, I intend to fully read and try to understand each post, and not have any preconceived notions.