What does being "open minded" mean to you?

Question

I have heard this phrase many times. Sometimes, I have heard this phrase used as a defense when they are doing something harmful or dishonest as a way to dodge criticism (I'll never forget the defense of pedophilia I once saw that used this phrase - I found it appalling). Other times, it seems to be used as a generic phrase to explore alternate ways of thinking and living. I'm wondering what this phrase really means. Does being "open minded" really imply accepting that there are no inherent wrongs in the world?

As a Libertarian-style thinker, I have often adopted the phrase "Do as you will, but harm none." Yet, it seems even that view can be considered closed-minded at times (hmmm...remember the Hitchcock film, Rope?).

Soooo....what does this phrase really mean, and how does a person go about becoming more "open-minded"? Or, is that even a desirable goal?

Answer 1

It is very important to have an open mind. It means having the intellegence to look at issues, problems, circumstances, etc. from several aspects and views. As an instructor I teach that there are often many right answers. Being able to see and understand this is the definition of an open mind. The world comes in many shades; not just black and white.

Answer 2

I would hope it to be not only listening and considering all options regarding the subject matter but to take time to contemplate the discussion and not only come to your own conclusion but the possibilities of other outcomes or avenues.

Answer 3

what move on said is spot on. I personally have felt that open mindedness is about having an opinion but allowing those opinions to be swayed if the right argument came along.

Answer 4

To be open minded, you just have to be open to and think deeply about different situations before you JUDGE the situation.  Being open minded doesn't necessarily mean you have to be OK with what you experience.  

Answer 5

Open-minded means that you are willing to listen to whatever someone wishes to talk about or do before you Reject it. It is the absence of " Contempt Prior to Investigation". This is easier said than done. In the case of Pedophiles, I have Great contempt and am not willing to listen to any Justification of their Behavior! In my opinion, These People, be they Male or Female, should be put to death immediately upon being found Guilty. No appeals, no waiting, just immediate Execution.  

Answer 6

I think being open minded means not judging things according to our standards and looking at things from another person's shoes/point of view. It doesn't mean that you necessarily have to agree with that person's view but at least if you look at issues objectively instead of subjectively, you might see something you'd have missed if you were being close-minded, that is thought it was your way or the high way. We all have our own definations of what is right and what is wrong.

Being open minded means you dont jump to conclusions. You take a step back and analayze a situation instead of saying you were right.

That being said, sick is sick, so a pedophile using that phrase is distasteful. If he ws being open minded he would have considered the short and long term effect his actions would have on those poor innocent defenseless kids. Obviously he didnt put himself in their shoes so no way was he being open minded!!!

Answer 7

Open-minded is a human attitude to a situation or during a conversation, where the person having an open mind is willing to consider a wide range of possibilities, even though some of them might seem to be unlikely at first.

Except in an emergency where instinctive decisions need to be made quickly, such an open-minded person is slow to judge the situation and even slower to respond to it, until many possible scenarios have been reviewed (in that persons thinking mind or openly during a discussion). Thus an open-minded person is cool, does not jump to conclusions without examining all of the factors involved and does so with only a little (necessary) emotion.

If you want to be respected for your sensibility and calm in difficult situations, then having an open mind is helpful. Many people don't see their lives being expressed in this form, and they take the opposite judgemental approach with strong emotions at play, but sometimes with disastrous results.

To be open minded requires a scientific or logical way of thinking, a nature that develops during the first 5 years and is less likely to be achieved if it is not there by that time. Small children start off being extremly logical in their thoughts and they can be helped to express their thoughts in this manner. Parents are very important in order to encourage this kind of behaviour.

As an engineer I believe it is desirable, but were I to be more of a stereotype in a particular line including in some limited kinds of art, then the opposite view would be more fitting.

Answer 8

To me, open-minded means a lot of imagination