Do We Really Need To Be Open-Minded and Tolerant Of Everyone's Viewpoints?

Question

Here's an example of an argument I had:

Friend - You need to be more open minded and learn to accept other people's viewpoints.
Me - Well then, what about white supremacists? Don't they deserve to be understood and have people accept their viewpoints.
Friend - Well, no. They are wrong.
Me - Why are they wrong? Don't they have the right to feel the way they do and to have people me more accepting towards white supremacy?
Friend - Stop playing with words.
Me - So you are saying that there are people's views that we shouldn't try to accept then?
Friend - Well, in that case yes.
Me - Well then what makes YOU decide what views we should accept and the ones to ignore? Do you only mean the views that you agree with and not , in this case white supremacy, being you don't agree with it?
Friend - You're twisting it around.
Me - No I am not. What you are saying is that you choose to accept people's views that agree with you and not those you find wrong.
Friend - Well...

Answer 1

Thats true and you are right!! If someone says we should be open minded we have to take everyones viewpoints into account and form a balanced arguement between contrasting views. We can accept or dismiss their arguement but we cannot judge them or condemn them for any view held as we are all entitled to our individual opinion and the right to freedom of expression!!!

Answer 2

It is important to be open-minded, and tolerant within limits. There is no need to condone views which we find abhorrent, but we cannot punish anybody for holding those views, either.

In your discussion with your friend, you brought up the example of white supremacists, and I think this is exactly the sort of case where we must make sure we remain open-minded. We do not need to accept their views, but we must understand where their opinions come from. Most people with prejudices like theirs are not evil, but simply ignorant or misinformed.

If we treat them as if they are evil, if we ostracize them or put them in prison, it is likely that their beliefs will never change. On the other hand, if we can recognize that they are human and fallible just as we are, and separate that from our distaste for their opinions, we may be able to have a productive conversation with them. By inviting them into society, rather than pushing them out of it, we can give them a chance to reform their ideas, and become a better person for it.

Their are some, I am sure, who cannot be reformed for whatever reason. For these people, we have a system of law enforcement.

Answer 3

Tolerant of all of us'S viewpoints? No! according to threat we ought to look on the factors we choose different factors of view with the aid of, and learn whether or no longer our standards must be broadened. What i exploit as a everyday criterion is the question "Will movements based on the viewpoint in question reason harm to others?", and if the respond is "No", (because it would be if somebody expressed a diferent religious ideation than mine) then I enable it bypass. If the respond is "sure", (because it would contained in terms of white supremacist viewpoints) then I oppose that viewpoint in in spite of way is ideal and effectual. Absolute tolerance sounds like rabid political correctness rearing that is knee-jerk head. enable difficulty-loose experience, and probable my question-criterion, be your instruction manual.

Answer 4

No, you do NOT have to accept the viewpoints of others. You have your views and that is all you "need" to accept.
You do, however, have to respect that everyone has the right to their own views. Whether you agree with them or not.
You don't have to RESPECT that view, just the right to have it.

Tell your friend that only spineless wienies accept everyone else's view.

Answer 5

1.To Each his/her own.
2.Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
3.To Receive Respect is to Give Respect.
4.If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
5. Some Comments Don't DESERVE a reply!
^.To Argue with ignorance, Makes you it's equal.

Answer 6

yes, we do need to be open minded to everyone view points,
but deciding whether something is right or wrong is based upon our own moral judgement.
Without insight to others view points we would not be able to formulate what morals and ideals are important to us.

Answer 7

Ummm...to the answerer above me...do you understand what communism is? Apparently not. I don't respect your viewpoint at all. The only viewpoint I respect is my own.

Answer 8

So let me get this straight.

If I said child pornography is wrong and my friend said it's right I should be tolerant of her point of view? Even though it's sick and gross and they might be watching it?

I think not.

Answer 9

America....
Freedom of speech..
Freedom of religion..
We are Free to make our own opinion's...
So yes I respect other people's view points....
Else our country would be turned *COMMUNISTIC*!
BUT DON'T BE SO OPENED MINDED THAT YOUR BRAIN FALLS OUT!!! :~)

Answer 10

wow.... i never thought of it that way. Thats soo true!! hahaha.
i guess we aren't as open minded and as tolerant of everyone's viewpoints as we thought....
so yes, we should TRY to be as open minded of everyone's viewpoints as possible.....