Do you ever get told to be more open minded by someone trying to convince you of something? For example maybe an anti-vaxxer or a food fear monger? Being open minded would mean being willing to consider and evaluate any evidence you are presented with, and potentially being prepared to change your opinion if the new evidence is strong enough. Ironically though the be more open minded request usually comes from people who are unwilling or just unable to provide any evidence or a logical, well reasoned argument to convince you. Rather, it its an appeal to your ego for example as follows: Oh, Im being closed minded? But being closed minded is bad, maybe I should change my opinion and just agree. Or, Oh, you thought I was more intelligent and reasonable? I do like to think of myself as intelligent and reasonable, maybe I should change my opinion after all. Emotional manipulation. For what its worth I actually believe everyone has the right to be as closed minded as they like about things that concern no one but their self. I got told I should stop eating breakfast cereal a few times a while back, because grains are bad. I was very closed minded to that because mind your own damn business and dont tell me what to eat. But it certainly is NOT closed minded to have an opinion based on your best understanding of the available evidence, and to require strong & credible evidence to the contrary before youll change your position.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:54:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015