Thread: "Closed minded"

I usually see "closed-minded" being used in the right way: Meaning that the person they are tagging refuses to except anything outside of what they are comfortable with. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with somebody being on the opposite side of a particular stance, but how that person handles his/herself when faced with another perspective.

I'm well aware that some people just throw the word around, though, without it actually being appropriate in a given situation, so I'm not going to completely argue with your OP. You're definitely right that anyone who uses the term had better be willing to accept that they, too, are probably closed-minded on many issues. The term should only be used on a case-by-case basis (people are closed-minded about certain issues, not "in general").

Heh. Some people just think it makes them sound enlightened or informed, though, so they throw the word around as often as they can when people disagree with them.

Most of the people that accuse others of being close-minded have minds that very open in the way an open sewer is open. Filled with unintellectual nonsense they find all the people that don't roll around in the metaphysical feces with them strange and closed-minded.

Or something. Metaphors are a bitch.

Point being that 'you are close-minded' is often an ad hominem argument used by people trying and failing to defend a theory that is plainly illogical or badly thought out.

I think the problem with it is that most people here are either hardcore atheists or hardcore [insertreligionname], so when they use it against the other, the other can use it just as much...

Two perfect examples of close minded statements are these:
1. Just look at Earth, how could anything but God have created that? (lul xpluzions out of nowhere lololol)

2. Just look at all the galaxies, why would God make all that just for us. (lul big man wit berd lollolol)

Just because something is illogical to you doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense to someone else.

Originally Posted by Maeni

2. Just look at all the galaxies, why would God make all that just for us.

Um...how is that a close minded statement? (Lolz jebus).

Originally Posted by Sandform

Um...how is that a close minded statement? (Lolz jebus).

Good question.

I don't think I ever used the terms close minded/open minded, but probably many times I should.

What I do find extremely annoying is when people choose to use the "close minded!" accusation instead of logically defending their case. Ironically, many times they're the closed minded ones that won't let go of their belief despite whatever evidence and logic is thrown at them, I've seen this happening a lot with the "2012ers".

Truly, a close minded person is not just someone who doesn't accept different ideas, but someone who doesn't accept different ideas without properly refuting them.

For example, I'm not closed minded to the idea of "god" because I would believe it if someone made a good argument or provided proof.

Most of the people that accuse others of being close-minded have minds that very open in the way an open sewer is open. Filled with unintellectual nonsense they find all the people that don't roll around in the metaphysical feces with them strange and closed-minded.

Or something. Metaphors are a bitch.

I appreciated it.

Originally Posted by GestaltAlteration

That said, I don't disagree with disagreement.

Well that's good.

I used to think of myself as open-minded. Then I met some other people who called themselves open-minded. I saw what kind of insane ideas were getting in so easily to their exposed minds. It was then I decided I'd keep my mind closed most of the time, only opening it to let the good ideas in and the bad ideas out.

I can't even classify myself as either closed or open minded. I try to see everyone's perspective on their story, and if it makes sense to me, I'll believe it. I also try to always come to my own conclusions about things if enough evidence is available to do so. But I often find myself being stubborn about random things, and I still have some subconscious biases towards other random things which affect how I think about stuff.

If I were to call someone closed minded, it would be because I think they are making no attempt whatsoever to understand any view other than their own.

Close minded means intolerant of the beliefs and opinions of others and stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas. It has nothing to do with the substance of the beliefs. You can believe anything and be either open minded or close minded about it. People who are close minded are easy to spot because they can't take part in a discussion with out acting like an asshole. There is nothing mysterious or complicated about it.

Originally Posted by Sandform

Um...how is that a close minded statement? (Lolz jebus).

Because not everyone thinks it was created just for us.

Hence, the person saying it would fail to understand the other persons point of view; that God didn't create all this just for us.

Originally Posted by The Enterer

Close minded means intolerant of the beliefs and opinions of others and stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas. It has nothing to do with the substance of the beliefs. You can believe anything and be either open minded or close minded about it. People who are close minded are easy to spot because they can't take part in a discussion with out acting like an asshole. There is nothing mysterious or complicated about it.

So, close mindedness isn't necessarily a bad thing.

My tolerance for close mindedness has it's limits. So many people in the OBE subforum are mean and closeminded.

Irony.

It's like being fucked in the ass. NINE THOUSAND TIMES.

Originally Posted by ClouD

Irony.

It's like being fucked in the ass. NINE THOUSAND TIMES.

I'm not close minded at all! Saying others are close minded doesn't make you! Unless you say that they will always be close minded!

A degree of closed-mindedness is necessary for focus.
That, in turn, communication.

I think one of the pinnacle of closemindedness is probably mass categorization. Prejudical thinking, you know?

Generalities.

Saying, 'liberals are always just plain idealistic. They just believe what they want to' or 'conservatives don't listent o logic but just look at things with an ignorant cruelty.' Even something like 'man, those Mexicans are all such hard workers!'

But in the end, I can't think of anyone who dosen't stereotype to some degree, so that would make just about everyone close midned to some degree, wouldn't it? I suppose that that's not a very strong statement that I just made though since we all have some degree of everything in a way so meh.

I think the enterer already brought up part of my point, I agree with him.

But I partially agree with what others have said about an alternate defintion of close-mindedness and how some level isn't all wrong.

If someone was one hundred precent open minded wouldn't that mean that they would never have strong convictions? That they could never make strong conclusions on an issue?

Originally Posted by GestaltAlteration

Ah, what a lovely term.

Little do the peons who tag this phrase on others realize how stupid it makes them look. If you could be completely honest (loosing the political/religious agenda that consumes every fiber of your being) and analyze yourself I'm willing to bet we'd come to an understanding that many of us are either A) Not as close minded as previously thought or B) More equally closed minded just on separate issues.

Let me state this first. Being a non-Christian does not make you open-minded (Note: I didn't say the inverse was true, either). Being far left does not make you open minded, or if it does, it's about as good as being far right. In the true sense of the word open minded people are OPEN to new ideas much like ancient Greece. They don't attack one institution or idea with full force under the pretense that it's okay since it's "a majority" and declare themselves open minded. I think another phrase is appropriate for this high school rebellion mentality: "My way or I'm going to tag you with a political stigma word".

That said, I don't disagree with disagreement. But if you're going to tag "open/closed mindedness" on people, think about it first. Is your Liberal/Conservative/Christian/Atheist/etc view truly leaving you with an open mind?

The answer is no. So shut up and lets get a little more intellectual honesty in our arguments.

Balance is key.

There is such as thing as being too open minded.

Like, to the point where your brains are leaking out.

aahhh wise people once say:

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.
~Terry Pratchett

I believe in an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.
~Arthur Hays Sulzberger

A diplomat is a man who says you have an open mind, instead of telling you that you have a hole in the head.
~Unknown

A great many open minds should be closed for repairs.
~Toledo Blade

Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate, or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.
~Henry Miller (1891 - 1980)

Where there is an open mind there will always be a frontier.
~Charles F. Kettering (1876 - 1958)

I think refuting evidence is as open minded as open minded can get, I mean if you were close minded you would just ignore it right? <||0_0||> lalalalalla I can't hear you Lalalal I can't hear you.