I think some people don't actually know what it means to be open-minded—and therefore are also foggy on the details of close-mindedness. Some people think because they have tattoos, listen to Franz Ferdinand, regularly employ various outré sexual positions, and have gay friends that they are open-minded. But should someone come along and question any of those things: Tattoos are immoral. Franz Ferdinand sucks. I only like it missionary. Homosexuality is a sin. this person, who believes he is open-minded, goes ballistic. Rants about crazy conservative Christians who can't accept anything outside the norm. Posts blogs about how fucked up middle America is and stay the fuck out of my life you strait-laced twat.Now I ask you, is that an open-minded person? Because, technically, the dictionary definition of close-minded is intolerant of the beliefs and opinions of others and I have to think that definition is a two-way street. It goes for the Christians who don't believe in pre-marital sex and it goes for liberals who don't believe in waiting. Some people wave the banner of "Don't judge me and I won't judge you" but that's a heavy banner to carry, and what I suspect they really mean is "Don't judge me because I'm not 'normal' but you're a poser for walking down the middle of the road." Hey, some people like the middle of the road! That little yellow line down the highway is a convenient guide, you know.
You wear the t-shirts. You have a nose ring. You know a guy named Terry who is "fabulous." Is that all it takes to be open-minded? Don't judge me and I won't judge you. So you say. But do you really have the balls to stand behind that or are you too busy telling right-wingers to fuck off?
8 comments:
AMEN, SISTER!
I am liberal in many ways. I'm a democrat. I don't subscribe to any organized religion. I try to be open-minded and don't like when people are close-minded.
I have friends who are very conservative, ultra-Catholic, and Republican. But we're friends because THEY also try their best to be open-minded. When we talk about issues, we disagree, but we respect each other enough to be sensitive and not call each other names or try to tell each other how to live.
I have other friends (acquaintances?) who believe polar opposite things than me and are always trying to tell me that I’m wrong and stupid for believing what I do. That’s not cool.
Anyway, I’m starting to ramble, so let me get back to my point:
GREAT POST; YOU ROCK! =)
But do you have liberal friends who tell your conservative friends what to do? Everyone expects conservative people to be holier-than-thou, but liberals ride that horse too.
Totally. Well, telling conservatives what to do would be un p.c., but I do have liberal friends who refuse to even talk to or even be at the same gathering as some conservative friends!
I was just discussing this with somebody.
What you're talking about goes beyond having an open-mind, I think.
I would call it Being Full of Grace.
I was saying recently to someone that the problem with being an empathetic person is that you expect or hope that all people will have the same amount as empathy. But they don't; or they aren't. And that gets frustrating.
Look what's going on in the Muslim world right now because of a couple of drawings.
I feel two ways about this -
1. I think it's absurd.
2. I wish I had something I considered so sacred that I was willing to riot in the streets and burn building if someone dared to mock that thing.
So what's that contradiction about?
I agree with you about the liberal who won't listen to the conservative's point of view. That peson sucks.
That being said, I think the problem - when it comes to "liberal" vs. "conservative" is that 7 times out 10, it's fairly safe to make this generalization (and most people who know me know I HATE generalizations, but here it is) - your average "liberal" is more willing to listen to the other POV and to try to wrap their head around it than your average "conservative."
I've found the greatest challenge is to be open-minded about someone who won't open their minds. I admit that. It's frustrating. I like to think that I empathize, try to see the world through their eyes, but it's tough sometimes.
Where the hell am I going with this?
I don't know.
I'm tired.
(Have you ever read "The Closing of the American Mind?" by Alan Bloom. It talks alot about this duplicity; great stuff)
Yes, the generalization is mostly true, but we've all had countless discussions about self-righteous conservatives, so why beat a dead horse?
And I also agree with your two points...in theory. While I wish I had something I held so sacred, the desceration of which would make me riot in the streets, I actually think not being so vehemently attached to something makes for more open-mindedness. There's not much someone else could say or do about something I value that would actually make me go bonkers, which I think makes me more acepting of those who do not fall in line with my beliefs.
I haven't read Bloom, but it's going on my list.
When it comes to open-mindedness, I don't think there's any difference between "liberals" and "conservatives".
There's open-minded people and closed-minded people. Some are liberal, some are conservative. The difference is that close-minded liberals THINK they are more open-minded and conservatives just think they are more right FOR BEING close-minded.
But there's actually scientific evidence that just having a partisan view is close-minded. Check out this article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11009379/
Some key excerpts (emphasis mine):
"Democrats and Republicans alike are adept at making decisions without letting the facts get in the way, a new study shows. And they get quite a rush from ignoring information that's contrary to their point of view."
...
"The test subjects on both sides of the political aisle reached totally biased conclusions by ignoring information that could not rationally be discounted... Then, with their minds made up, brain activity ceased in the areas that deal with negative emotions such as disgust. But activity spiked in the circuits involved in reward, a response similar to what addicts experience when they get a fix."
"The result is that partisan beliefs are calcified, and the person can learn very little from new data."
So the problem isn't being conservative. And it isn't being liberal. It's being either one! Anyone who chooses a side, is going to be close-minded. This country is EXTREMELY polarized right now. And it's all driven by these totally irrational brain functions.
Liberals and conservatives are addicted to their opinions.
erm, didn't sign my above post...
-Stephen
You must have been quite a term paper-writer. This is a very well organized comment and I totally agree. Anyone who doesn't allow new information to shape their current opinions is not an open-minded person on definition alone. The research you mention makes good sense to me. It's time to bring back the lobotomy!
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