IMO, there are four critical components to open-mindedness:

1. Willingness to be wrong.

2. Ability to suspend belief.

3. Ability to suspend disbelief.

4. Ability to think critically.

Truly, most people lack the ability to think critically. IMO, this is intentionally inculcated in us through the educational system.

Without the ability to think critically, to thoroughly question and analyze everything we sense, we are programmable.

We have been programmed not to question and fear is what makes us belly up to our invisible masters!

I find it hilarious that few take me seriously when I use a phrase like 'invisible masters' but when I use the expression 'slave to the grind' EVERY person on this board can relate to it.

.........hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........

??

Truly we are the goyim until we begin to question the whole paradigm, not just half of it.

So I'm challenging every single person that reads this to engage in the exercise of suspending their entire belief system. Not many are capable of this without life slapping them in the face with their wrongness on some issue. I know that some of us here are capable due to that very fact...

What, IYO, constitutes an open mind?

A large caliber round to the head when you disagree with someone violent.

Sometimes we are better kept to ourselves. I like your four requirements, though.

Cracks me up how many people will say you don't have an open mind if you don't agree with them!

...not limited to, but especially RWWJs.

Making decisions based on reason and logic rather than emotion has got to be part of an open minded persons behavior...( this excludes a high percentage of the female population) <little bait 4 auntym>

Number one in my book....honesty
Number two....openness
Number three...willingness

It is also my belief that there is an overwhelming resistance to honesty. It has become common to regard honesty as an enlistment to "Chumphood".

Openness? Takes a lot of courage and again, not many are up to that.

I am aware of my unwillingness at times to do a number of things that I suspect would be beneficial to myself or others. I guess being aware is a start.

My 2

You ate the red pill didn't you?

Not being afraid to immerse yourself in the side of an issue you don't agree with. If you are a liberal watch more Fox News--- If you are conservative watch more MSNBC.

Very succint Jerry - and accurate.

h2o-

I was counting on you when you reintroduced yourself to the board!

My first sig line says it for me "Don't believe everything that you think." It keeps me humble, helps me laugh at myself, and it prevents me from "making a line in the sand".

It also helps when I'm off my meds

honesty is a key component to building trust but it really has nothing to do with whether or not you are open-minded, IMO.

Open-mindedness is a process of disseminating information whereas honesty is putting forth information you believe to be true.

Also, truth is over-rated. See 'the world is flat' theory for confirmation of this idea....

...or the wake left by mankind of countless shattered truths through history.

One thing's for sure....a truly open mind will believe a lie as easily as the truth. Try it on a two year old.

Truth may differ from individual to individual, since past experience modifies each person's perception.

Can honesty be modified?

One of the few useful things that Ronald Reagan ever said...

"Trust, but verify"

That's a pretty good alternate definition of an open mind.

Fish on...

Todd

Screw your facts, I have my opinion.

Open-mindedness would require you to suspend your emotional attachment to "things" and people. If you can accept that the world (and the universe) around you exists as it is, beyond your own thoughts, you may begin to see things you've never let yourself see before. Open-mindedness goes beyond interpersonal interaction.

I'm also "open" to someone else resurrecting the thursday thread! Hint, hint, that's today people!!!

+1

hey

Romulus here. Been a while. ...just back from suspending my entire belief system/vomiting in the ditch


Open minded?


....that's what we used to call whitey after we scalped him









Can I borrow the top of your head, since you aren't using it?..............

where's Larry Craig? he's "open" to alternative forms of "pleasure"

You american indians are pathetic. At least our indians can speak proper english and hold down tech-service jobs. Their slums do remind me of your reservations though.

that is the most funny thing you have said....