Are you open minded? Which of these quotations best expresses what you think about this?

Question

"A mind is like a parachute - it works best when it's open"

or

"A mind should not be so 'open' than any old rubbish can fall in"

I thought this would be the interesting forum to ask in because it's where I hang out most, and because the phrase "open-minded" seems to crop up here more than elsewhere. All interesting points of view valued and appreciated.

I'll add details before giving Best Answer to explain a few things. An open mind is something, like a sense of humour, that people will rarely admit to NOT having. I broke this down into two apparently opposing ideas inspired by a quotation usually attributed to G K Chesterton: "When a man ceases to believe in God, he doesn't believe in nothing. He believes in anything." He meant that without a firm set of beliefs, we may accept any old nonsense, and IMHO there's a lot of that about today: horoscopes, crystals, aliens, conspiracy theories, the list is endless.

I think we ALL aspire to having an open mind. But to those who say that they would choose quotation (1) because they can filter out the rubbish afterwards - aren't you actually living by (2) in that case? I think it's very hard to get the balance right. We have to be open minded. But we have to be discerning as well. And that's why I thought Best Answer should go to...

Answer 1

a balance of both is best, it is like the squeaky wheel, if you never squeak then you never get the oil, but if you squeak all the time you are turned in for a newer wheel.

Answer 2

I believe the mind is like a parachute, it works best when it's open, but the Catholics do NOT have open minds. Case in point coming from years of Catholic school and relatives constantly shoving their views down my throat. When I told them I was not Catholic anymore they disowned me, both my mothers side and my fathers side. I never had a choice in the matter. I was baptized at three weeks old and was forced into this religion. Even as a little girl I found that religion suffocating, judgmental, critical and hypocritical. Also being in a very small town we got all the priests with the dirty secrets if you know what I mean. I am pagan and I tried telling them that but they think I am an atheist just because I do not want to be Catholic. Being Catholic for the first 33 years of my life did A LOT of damage to me that will last a life time.

Answer 3

If you are under 20 years old, you have no business answering this question, the mind learns by processing information and situations using past experience, knowledge and the inate desire to make ideas work together. Young people do not have the requisite number of experiences to get a valid result from the input. Keep the mouth shut and let the mind work for a few years before you start spouting opinions.

Thought + knowledge + time = intellect. Learn it. Know it. Live it.

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most....."

Answer 4

The problem is that the first quotation, even though it sounds good, usually means that if you have a strong opinion or belief that you are closed-minded. I'm tired of everyone waving the "tolerance" banner, when in fact , it is the liberal , so called "open-minded" people who are intolerant of anyone with convictions about anything. Am I close-minded if I hear more than one point of view and decide which I think is right? I'm tired of being labled when all I do is think for myself and make discernments about what I believe.

Answer 5

Well,I do believe that a mind should be open to new thoughts and ways of thinking about the world around. But just like a person that is parachuting, there is a danger of the parachute swirling out of control.Just be smart about it. Keeping your mind open doesn't mean that you need to have no common sense and not know when there isa danger of our minds swirling and twisting out of control. But if you never let the parachute open then you never experience the beauty and freedom of the leap.

Answer 6

I think the second one describes me better. I think it's important to be open minded but many people are way too gullible nowadays. That's why "psychics" are always taking advantage of people. I think some people believe too much, too easily, without actually thinking about what they're told. With the first quote, I think it would catch up with them at some point and rip the parachute. I like them both though, as well as this one:

"Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out"
- Richard Feynman

Answer 7

"A mind is like a parachute - it works best when it's open" - I relate myself to this, and the reason I am a little confident about the rubbish that get's collected is because I have learnt what are the things that need thoughts and what requires a speedy disposal of my thoughts not to give too much time for getting troubled with rubbish

Answer 8

The parachute one, because it implies thinking for oneself. The second one is based on fear. A closed or partially closed mind is very scary, especially in politics. However, when one is raising children, it can take on a new meaning. You want to limit exposure so rubbish cannot fall in, and you have to encourage their natural sense of right and wrong by showing them what is valuable and right. So, perhaps each saying has its own merit, depending on the who, what, where, why, how.

Answer 9

Interesting question, Bad Liberal!

For most, whether it happens to be true or not, the answer, "A mind is like a parachute - it works best when it's open," would be their first choice.

But wouldn't that imply empty headedness? If in fact "headedness" is a word? Hehehehe... ;)

Answer 10

I like the open parachute. Q/A has helped to educate me on several subjects. I learn something new everyday. Some of these people are extremely intelligent and help to enlighten me. Many times a question has sent me to look it up. I like that.

Answer 11

The second is the more disciplined approach to learning. The mind is not a net that merely captures anything that comes along, whether good or bad, sublime or base. At some level one's learning should have some level of structure to it.

Bottom line, I like the second one better.