Comments on: In Defense of Closed-Mindedness (or, I Won’t Argue With You Because I Live in a Fantasy World)

By: openyourmind

openyourmind — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:16:15 +0000

being open minded doesn’t mean to be accepting everything and every discussion.

for example (your example), I would listen to somebody trying to convince me sky is green but the real question is what kind of evidence or logic he/she base his opinion on.

that is the difference between close-minded and open-minded persons.

you are clearly an open-minded person and this article is the best proof for it.

closed-minded person would never be able to think in such a different way about the things.

following basic logic, you are on OUR side.

closed-minded person will never question beliefs that he/she got from parents, teachers and society but you are clearly doing the opposite.

thank you.

By: Leah/DefytheBox

Leah/DefytheBox — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:11:02 +0000

I love this post Pace!
I look at your close-minded concept as being in a place of Knowing what is right for me. There are some things that i just KNOW are my preference and my reality…..but that does not mean they are right for someone else, and no amount of convincing will make me change my mind about it. My sense of knowing goes deep down inside of me.

I think that it is good to be open-minded and allow yourself to entertain other ideas and perhaps even open yourself up to new experiences…even if it is some thing that most folks may think is taboo or unacceptable. Let’s face it, us freaks do plenty of things that the mainstream mentality would not do because they are caught up in a close minded story saying it is bad, or wrong, or dirty…or whatever the label may be. The key is to be open minded enough to consider everything while being deeply tuned into your own sense of knowing what does and does not resonate true for you.
Rock On!
Leah

By: Pace

Pace — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:55:29 +0000

@Elly: I like your bold writing style. (:

@Leonie: What a wonderful thing to be closed-minded about. That’s exactly the sort of thing I’m talking about! And the wonderful thing about Leonie’s that Leonie’s a wonderful thing! (;

@Lydia: Yes!!

By: Lydia, Clueless Crafter

Lydia, Clueless Crafter — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:47:49 +0000

A little late to say this, but I think that being closed-minded is really the wrong way of saying that we have the power of our convictions. Thank you for putting “tried-and-true” cultural concepts to the test. Opens the eyes doesn’t it:-)

By: Goddess Leonie | Goddess Guidebook

Goddess Leonie | Goddess Guidebook — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:26:02 +0000

I totally agree… I’m close-minded about happiness. I totally believe that happiness is my right and choice every single day. And that everything is really, really going to be okay. So it’s all good. :) But then I get people saying “you’re not being realistic about what the world is really like.” And to be honest, I don’t give a shit. I’m a happy bean that believes living is better if you’re a Tigger than an Eeyore.

:)
xoxo

By: Elly

Elly — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:45:27 +0000

Open-minded and closed-minded are a spectrum, not a binary. If you’re completely closed-minded, that’s horrible! If you’re completely open-minded, then you’re not setting healthy boundaries, and that’s horrible too. The right place to be is in the middle.

… this “writing boldly” thing feels weird. There’s a half-dozen qualifiers missing there, damn it ^^

By: Pace

Pace — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:48:21 +0000

@Nicole: Indeed.

@Shannon: Oh, yes yes yes! Tolerance is different from open-mindedness. It’s the difference between “This is not right” and “This is not right for me.” As for curiosity and learning and growth, I think it’s again about boundaries. There are lots of areas where I’m excited about learning and growing, and in those areas, I’m open-minded. In other areas, I’m closed-minded.

@Betsy: Ha! (:

By: Betsy Wuebker

Betsy Wuebker — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:53:09 +0000

Well, my dad always said, “Don’t be so open-minded that your brains fall out.”

By: Shannon Henry

Shannon Henry — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:07:36 +0000

Way to write boldly!

Definitely got me thinking with this one… particularly the examples of how everyone is closed-minded about some things.

I think that being open-minded is often confused with being accepting of others having different beliefs – I can be okay with your believing that the sky is green without always opening up to taking on that belief myself. Other beliefs I may not be so okay with, but I can understand that I’m not going to change that person’s mind and simply choose not to associate with them.

At the same time, I’d love to hear how you think this concept interplays with valuing curiosity and learning and growth.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:55:18 +0000

I think of open-minded as when presented with a new idea, being open to it. Not everyone deserves attention and an unwillingness to give any isn’t necessary closed-mindedness. More likely, intelligence.