What does open minded mean to you?

Answer 1

in todays world, it means that you'll fall for anything that the powers that be (media, movies, music, educators)try to force feed you. Notice how being "open-minded" is SO important to SO many people.? Where did that come from? You rarely heard those two words 20 years ago. Getting your mind opened is just their way of preparing you for their next agenda. This happens all the time, but you have to be a tuned-in person to see it. Maybe the Fool On The Hill wasn't such a fool after all.

Answer 2

I think its not a crime against 'open mindedness' to have a belief.

I think if you have an open mind then you may still have an opinion, but that opinion is malleable, shifting one way or another by varying degrees of belief and interest. If you are very interested in something, I believe chances are you are open minded. But the point of focus you are working with may cause you to appear closed minded along simpler threads of the same subject...where in fact you are just assuming due to deeper exploration. Which in my opinion, some things must be taken for granted or postulate to look at more intricate possibilities along any given thread until you find what you are looking for.
On the other hand maybe you can get so lost in exploring something you may become closed minded not do to conscious decision, but out of necessity in your persuit via attention span. Something you are not actively considering does not mean you are closed minded to it, but as far as you taking initiative yes. No human I ever met was a wellspring of knowledge.
No human I met has paused to consider what time of day it is in Morocco when they've never been there before while fixing a flat tire on the side of the freeway in Los Angeles during rush hour...or never vocalized it to me as such. This doesnt mean they are closed minded to the subject, just preoccupied, though one might percieve them as such if they balked at your question while tightening thier lug nuts.
I presume the capacity to focus is a necessary cognitive function to survival. I could be wrong though...I think thats open minded enough so I will close mine on this subject for now...I have laundry to do.

Answer 3

In a good sense "open minded" means that a person is willing to consider what someone else has to tell them and if it contradicts a previously held opinion to be open to reconsidering the matter in light of new data on the subject.

In a bad sense it means not having any firmly held beliefs and being subject to the shifting winds of societal evolution and popular opinion. That's why I'm so grateful that God has given us eternal truths as a basis from which to compare everything else that might come across our path in this life.

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all arrive to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we may no longer be infants, being tossed as by waves, and being carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in regard to deceitful scheming, but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ; Ephesians 4:11-15

Answer 4

Reasonably allowing for others opinions and arguments to change your own opinion. That doesn't mean blindly falling over commercials on television or the media. It simply means taking the other side into consideration then forming intelligent and well thought out opinions. Trying new things and then deciding whether or not you like it instead of saying "oh that's stupid." before trying. eh, simply put, not being prejudice.

Answer 5

Open minded mean:

Being open to the opinions of others

Listening more than you talk

Always allowing the other person to have their say, uninterrupted.

Having the humility to realize when you are wrong

Having the grace to admit when you are wrong

Answer 6

it is nearly impossible (if not completely) to be entirely open minded.. according to the second definition. the first definition is more likely, and usually what people consider as being open minded.

1.having or showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments.
2.unprejudiced; unbigoted; impartial.

Answer 7

To me, it is the ability to LISTEN to the viewpoints of others and to respect their point of reference (where they are coming from, their life experiences and the knowledge they gained from their experiences). It is also the knowledge that by listening to others objectively you may be able to gain insight and a new prospective. It is the ability to respect those who hold values, thoughts, practices etc that differ from your own, while remaining true to your own belief system. I don't believe that being open-minded is equivalent to being gullible or easily swayed. Just because you are able to listen to others does not necessarily mean that you have to agree.

Answer 8

Not to jump to conclusions and take things as they happen giving the necessary attention to certain things in a positive mater that does not put the person in a level of discomfort.

Answer 9

My mind is open to differnet possibilities, yet I can still have my own opinions and beliefs.

Answer 10

Its people taking conscious responsibility for their own lives,
not blaming others for their problems. People that choose their own path and not follow dogma. People that feel they can change the world by changing themselves, not trying to change others.