Meaning of 'close minded'?

Question

I used to regard this term as some kind of insult, but I think I may have been mistaken and used in a paranormal forum it may actually be a compliment, what's your take on this?

Answer 1

You are right, in a paranormal forum, it is a high compliment, indeed.

Within the context of a paranormal forum, it means you're rational.

Answer 2

I would personally say that a close minded person is someone who is unwilling to examine all the possible flaws or good things on both sides.

Close minded individuals would rather mock people than consider anything else that they havn't experience.

     For example, some skeptics are able to examine the flaws of the paranormal but are unwilling to examine the flaws of James Randi. They have a belief about a subject and are unwilling to find someone more credible for research. Someone open minded may not believe in psychics but they may also understand that the james randi tests are unfair when looked at legally. Or maybe that's intelligent ppl, I don't know. Closed minded person will stick up for whatever  tries to 'prove' their theory RIGHT, even if it's not credible. That works for both sides of the coin. There are close minded people who believe in the paranormal or psychics and want nothing to do with an alternative explanation.

Open minded means being open to all possibilities, on both sides- it means ready to be right or wrong-no matter what the side is.

Open minded means treating people with respect and not finding ways to pull people down, just b.c you may be bored or don't agree.

Answer 3

You might be on to something.  Personally, I see the term as meaning 'someone who won't change their mind'.  Basically, they've made up their mind and nothing will ever change it.  That's definitely not the scientific way to go about things - I'd be happy to change my mind about the paranormal given convincing evidence up to the basic standards of science.  But it looks like there are people out there who will believe in anything, and nothing will make them change their mind - that's my definition of close-minded.

Basically, if you can't think of any way you could be wrong, then you're not being scientific.  Everything in science could be proven wrong.  Evolution, gravity, nuclear physics, you name it.  

Answer 4

I've grown up around a lot of close minded people. I guess I was one of them. If it was in a history book or science book...I believed it. I was happier then. So I won't disturb you from your sleep.  

Answer 5

The only definition of close minded that I accept is that they are an individual that only accepts one definition.