Why are people close-minded?

[Bunches 81]

It's "fear of the unknown" which translates into fear of anything that the person has never experienced before or never been exposed to, as well as fear of anything that doesn't fit within their view of how things should be. I don't think it's right to judge or blame people for being closed minded, but instead help them overcome it through education and positive exposure/reinforcements.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

Honestly, I think some closed-mindedness is necessary, or at the very least unavoidable. If you believe anything at all, then by necessary extension, you disbelieve anything to the contrary.

 

So by believing that murder is wrong, I disbelieve that murder is alright. And I'd say I'm pretty closed-minded about that, which is probably a good thing. If I were more open-minded about it, I may be like, "Hey, why not go murder someone today? It's probably not really that bad."

 

Obviously that's an extreme example, but the point is that some closed-mindedness is necessary, and it's a matter of personal beliefs to determine what things it's important to be closed-minded about. Ironically, to look down on what others choose to be closed-minded about (Ponies, for example) is itself closed-minded.

[Khaoios 1,970]

Welcome to the 21st Century........most ppl these days are just down right stupid and selfish.  Alongside that, money......everything in there books is all about money, and the lack of caring for another, tbh.  Its like walking through New York City, seeing Ebenezer Scrooges. 

[Malinter 3,064]

there's also an element of comfort zones too. for some people its not they they are closed minded but genuinely afraid of change or certain developments.

[Tetris 115]

lol im not a fan of him, and never will be.. but when people go around saying 'hes the best thing ever', its just irritating really.. but anyway.

 

 

Close minded people are everywhere, soo live with it.. you cant change it, and only way you can is illegal

I liked Bill Clinton.  Also how do you get signatures?

[Flash Fire 386]

People are close minded because things that challenge their understanding of the world and what is right frightens them.

 

My hair is really dark, almost black, purple.

[Castle Bleck 19,167]

I wish there was some kind of magic spell that made people more open-minded  :okiedokielokie:

 

A few years ago, I would've given a "free will" argument.

 

Lately, however, I think of everyone who gets hypnosis for things like mental illness and poor impulse-control.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Anti-Villain

[Nine 707]

It's "fear of the unknown" which translates into fear of anything that the person has never experienced before or never been exposed to, as well as fear of anything that doesn't fit within their view of how things should be. I don't think it's right to judge or blame people for being closed minded, but instead help them overcome it through education and positive exposure/reinforcements.

 

I don't think anything has slowed the movement towards positive change more than this; throughout the entire course of history. This attitude that if I don't understand it and I don't know what it is, then it's bad. A misjudged sense of risk .. exactly what you said, fear of the unknown.

And it's strange to me, because it's such a simple fear to get over. All you have to do is ask a question or two.

 

 

Honestly, I think some closed-mindedness is necessary, or at the very least unavoidable. If you believe anything at all, then by necessary extension, you disbelieve anything to the contrary.

 

So by believing that murder is wrong, I disbelieve that murder is alright. And I'd say I'm pretty closed-minded about that, which is probably a good thing. If I were more open-minded about it, I may be like, "Hey, why not go murder someone today? It's probably not really that bad."

 

Obviously that's an extreme example, but the point is that some closed-mindedness is necessary, and it's a matter of personal beliefs to determine what things it's important to be closed-minded about. Ironically, to look down on what others choose to be closed-minded about (Ponies, for example) is itself closed-minded.

 

 

I don't think people usually intend open-mindedness to mean a willingness to accept any idea uncritically. It just means making fair, reasonable judgments.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Nine

[Nina 38]

Because people shun upon those, who act/look/think diffrently. Nuff said.

I am close minded only on stuff like alcohol and drugs, and will not accept any other explanation to why using any is good. But I accept and tolerate what others do.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I don't think people usually intend open-mindedness to mean a willingness to accept any idea uncritically. It just means making fair, reasonable judgments.

 

Good point. But still, who's to decide what qualifies as "fair" and "reasonable"?

[Nine 707]

Good point. But still, who's to decide what qualifies as "fair" and "reasonable"?

 

I could volunteer my opinion, but the most popular selections in our inventory are:

i) whoever has the most guns

ii) a derivation of ethics from an unbiased collection of objective facts

iii) whatever the most people vote is fair and reasonable

iv) I like pie

Edited March 17, 2014 by Nine

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

I could volunteer my opinion, but the most popular selections in our inventory are:

i) whoever has the most guns

ii) a derivation of ethics from an unbiased collection of objective facts

iii) whatever the most people vote is fair and reasonable

iv) I like pie

 

i) Heh heh, it's funny because it's true. Also sad.

ii) I honestly don't believe that people are capable of coming to "unbiased" conclusions, even through use of objective facts. Whatever an individual's worldview, he will look at things from that perspective even if he tries not to.

iii) Seems reasonable in theory, but considering we're talking about being open- or closed-minded as a general concept, I don't know how practical that would be in this particular issue.

iv) Platypus berries make delicious cacti.

[BlinkZ 1,151]

I have to ask this but are you refering to the proper term to Close minded.   Or just the "oh you dont like XYZ your so close minded." BS people though around as some kind of defnece for their views.

Just thought of this randomly and it made my angry.

 

Why would people look strange at ya if you for example: had rainbow colored hair?

Why is that weird? WHY? 

I dont get it. I wish there was some kind of magic spell that made people more open-minded  :okiedokielokie:

Well at least they are closed minded their brain doesn't fall out.

[Nine 707]

i) Heh heh, it's funny because it's true. Also sad.

ii) I honestly don't believe that people are capable of coming to "unbiased" conclusions, even through use of objective facts. Whatever an individual's worldview, he will look at things from that perspective even if he tries not to.

iii) Seems reasonable in theory, but considering we're talking about being open- or closed-minded as a general concept, I don't know how practical that would be in this particular issue.

iv) Platypus berries make delicious cacti.

 

So long as people make an earnest effort to put the truth and real values ahead of their own ideologies, bitterness, stubbornness and pride, I won't condemn them as people, even when I object to their ideas.

 

Most people say they want to improve lives. They want more food for the people without, better food for the people with, better medicine, more and better jobs, better products and services. They want the quality of life to go up. And that's admirable.

 

To achieve and advance these goals, people choose the ideology they feel will do the most successful job. And that's necessary, and I don't have a problem with it either.

 

But what troubles me is that most of the time, when people choose an ideology it changes their goals. It's no longer "I want to improve lives", but "I want to improve lives in this specific way". It becomes "I want socialism to improve lives", or "I want capitalism to improve lives". "I want government to provide more food". "I want the free market to provide more food".

 

Putting means ahead of the goals creates difficulties. On the one hoof, it's principled. And if the principles are good, they shouldn't be sacrificed for expedience' sake. On the other hoof, it stops a lot of people from examining new, challenging information that may hurt their ideology, but would help their stated goal of improving lives.

 

In practice, open-mindedness means knowing when your current level of knowledge is insufficient to judge something new. It's knowing when you need to learn more, before you speak.

[Henny Penny Benny 936]

So long as people make an earnest effort to put the truth and real values ahead of their own ideologies, bitterness, stubbornness and pride, I won't condemn them as people, even when I object to their ideas.

 

Most people say they want to improve lives. They want more food for the people without, better food for the people with, better medicine, more and better jobs, better products and services. They want the quality of life to go up. And that's admirable.

 

To achieve and advance these goals, people choose the ideology they feel will do the most successful job. And that's necessary, and I don't have a problem with it either.

 

But what troubles me is that most of the time, when people choose an ideology it changes their goals. It's no longer "I want to improve lives", but "I want to improve lives in this specific way". It becomes "I want socialism to improve lives", or "I want capitalism to improve lives". "I want government to provide more food". "I want the free market to provide more food".

 

Putting means ahead of the goals creates difficulties. On the one hoof, it's principled. And if the principles are good, they shouldn't be sacrificed for expedience' sake. On the other hoof, it stops a lot of people from examining new, challenging information that may hurt their ideology, but would help their stated goal of improving lives.

 

In practice, open-mindedness means knowing when your current level of knowledge is insufficient to judge something new. It's knowing when you need to learn more, before you speak.

 

Dude. Very well-said. Kudos to you. 

[Venomous 18,813]

Some people are just close-minded. That's really all there is to it.

 

They may have been in an environment and that influenced them to think the way they do.

Then again this is a nature vs. nurture debate.

[Nine 707]

Dude. Very well-said. Kudos to you. 

 

I used to do more prescriptive, normative writing than I do now, but I got very weary of it. I'm happier as a student than a teacher.

[Away 2,077]

I think because people generally prefer familiarity. It's more natural and easy to just stick to your own views and whatnot. I guess it's almost sort of instinctual.

[Judgement 445]

Because they believe the one and ONLY true way of believing, doing, acting, and talking is their way.

 

I'm sure we all would like to think of our beliefs as facts, but you don't have to shove them in someone else's face.

 

It is a stubborn opinion. I'm not going to lie though. There are some topics that you have the right to be close minded about if you have personal experience, or someone else informed you with their experiences.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Judgement

[Oblivion 20,265]

It's easier for people to remain ignorant instead of educating themselves. that is the short answer to a complex question IMO. -_-

[Adorkable 2,737]

I'm sure there's some kind of spell...

 

In Equestria. ^^"

 

But I have tons of close-minded people in my family.

 

All I can say is, it's the way you're raised and how you learn to believe what is "right" and "wrong".

 

You can manipulate a child to think anything.

 

Like the ground was the sky, and vise verse.

 

Then there are just stubborn people, who don't care if you have a valid point or not, you're wrong either way.

 

I don't like those kind of people. ^^"

[Sorry 46]

My family is close-minded to the tea.  //don't know if I said that right...

 

I love my parents, don't get me wrong, but they despise things that, to them, are out of the norm.

 

One of my best friends has dyed her hair multiple times and has done things I'm not going to type up (none of it illegal mind you!) and my mother, only knowing about her hair and a few piercings, already has a negative opinion about her. She was complaining saying, "That girl has probably done drugs, I don't want you being friends with her!" I don't know if she has or not, but she is one of the sweetest girls I know and you expect me to not be friends with her based on an assumption? 

 

I don't know, but on the topic of rainbow hair; one of my buddies I was in a call with had his sister around, and after she found out I was a brony she took the mic and asked, "Do you have rainbow hair?" Her brother scolded her, and her defense was, "Well she's into ponies, don't most girl bronies dye their hair rainbow?" 

 

Just that that was a silly tale, more on assumptions rather then close-mindedness but at the same time, the two do go hand-in-hand..It's frustrating.

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

Because it is an innate biological defense mechanism. They fear anything outside the norm, as in ye olden days, that thing was most likely to kill you, eat your kids and curse your tribe. The fear of that which is different has kept mankind alive for untold generations, because before the safety net of our modern society, that which was different really was out to get you.

[ChoroChii 284]

People will stare at you if you have eye-catching hair. Doesn't really make them closed-minded.

It is a bit strange but not a bad thing. Nevertheless, I think people should be aware of what they're doing isn't the social norm and expect others to judge. 

[Rainbowcrash420 109]

People like to demean people and judge to compensate for their own insecurities or anger. They think its a solution but it only holds them back. Some of my family members think Im some crazy drunk pothead maniac because Im a long hair dude. Reality is I work all the time and barely have time to even play video games let alone get wasted all the time like some immature frat boy.