You shouldn't be open minded about some things and close minded about others

writer811

writer811

Legacy Member
I try to be understanding and nonjudgemental. I don't believe that anything should be illegal or taboo unless it somehow harms people (And due to separation of church and state, religious reasons are irrelevant). For example, I defend the rights of LGBT and polygamists every day. And I routinely have to defend practices and lifestyles that seem bizarre and/or disgusting even to me. For example, some people like to have sex with cars. It doesn't hurt anyone, why should it be taboo or illegal? Some cultures eat the bodies of their dead. They've already died of natural causes, no one is hurt by eating them. Why shouldn't it be allowed? Some people enjoy cutting themselves, not out of depression or suicidal tendencies but because it makes them feel good. If they know how to avoid seriously hurting themselves, why should they have to stop if it makes them happy?
We can't be open minded about some things and then condemn others because we can't understand it or it disgusts or frightens us. Open minded about one thing, open minded about all. Now, open minded doesn't mean accepting. If a lifestyle is harmful, it absolutely should be banned. But there's no reason to ban a harmless one.
 
This is a question answerable with many nuances. Personally, I think it's a topic that does not support rankings. If we are open minded, we should be with all subjects. Of course, our human beings makes us prejudiced, is simply a matter of survival. But when prejudices are combined with ignorance, become an obstacle difficult to overcome. That is why we have to try to live in a society in which they develop an awareness of pluralism and openness, provided that no harm to others. I believe that within a few decades we will move in that direction. However, there will always be closed minds that put obstacles in the way to a broader vision. :)
 
I personally think that is hazardous to your well-being.

If you consistently have to support or agree with things that generally disgust you or freak you out, you are simply lying to yourself. I understand being open-minded to a cretain degree, but nobody was born to like everyhting in this world... life just is not that way. We have our preferences and our dislikes, its what makes us who we are.

What you are proposing is open-mindedness on a grand scale.
Which is in itself paradoxical.
Should you not be open-minded to those who choose to be close-minded?

It's not hurting anyone.
 
I may not like it or want to practice it, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed. Nobody is going to like everything and nobody should. What's that quote? "I may not agree with what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it?" That's how I feel when I defend people who seem bizarre to me. It's easy, I just remember that most people consider me bizarre too.

Also, being close minded by itself is harmless but if you're in a position to influence someone else's life in a significant way, say a judge or politician, than close mindedness absolutely can hurt people.
 
writer811 said:
I try to be understanding and nonjudgemental. I don't believe that anything should be illegal or taboo unless it somehow harms people (And due to separation of church and state, religious reasons are irrelevant). For example, I defend the rights of LGBT and polygamists every day. And I routinely have to defend practices and lifestyles that seem bizarre and/or disgusting even to me. For example, some people like to have sex with cars. It doesn't hurt anyone, why should it be taboo or illegal? Some cultures eat the bodies of their dead. They've already died of natural causes, no one is hurt by eating them. Why shouldn't it be allowed? Some people enjoy cutting themselves, not out of depression or suicidal tendencies but because it makes them feel good. If they know how to avoid seriously hurting themselves, why should they have to stop if it makes them happy?
We can't be open minded about some things and then condemn others because we can't understand it or it disgusts or frightens us. Open minded about one thing, open minded about all. Now, open minded doesn't mean accepting. If a lifestyle is harmful, it absolutely should be banned. But there's no reason to ban a harmless one.
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Just like you said that one shouldn't be open-minded only on selected issues, you should have not been very authoritative when declaring that the bizarre behaviors you have mentioned aren't hurting anyone. There are people who would like to see decency in sex and having it with a car would be degrading something they value. I think this is hurting and of course very non respectful!
 
Jatelo2 said:
Just like you said that one shouldn't be open-minded only on selected issues, you should have not been very authoritative when declaring that the bizarre behaviors you have mentioned aren't hurting anyone. There are people who would like to see decency in sex and having it with a car would be degrading something they value. I think this is hurting and of course very non respectful!
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How does it hurt you in any way? And decency and respect are different for everyone, it's impossible for anything to ever be decent or respctful because sombody won't see it that way. If you feel that having sex with cars is degrading (And I didn't make that example up, there are many people who can't help but feel aroused by cars) then just don't do it. There's no need for to force someone else to stop, unless they're doing it right in front of you, which is public indecency.
 
I disagree with this on one major point. I don't think it's about having an open or closed mind, it's about your own value systems. If you personally think something is wrong, why should you defend it? You can ignore it, but you don't need to defend it. If I think something is disgusting, immoral or dangerous, I won't speak out against it, nor will I condemn its practitioners, but I won't defend it either.

I just decide that this is something I really don't want to be involved with. Realistically, nobody can be involved with everything that goes on in the world.
 
Society has certain morals and rules that just aren't meant to be broken. If you have a problem with the way a certain society imposes their morals on your beliefs, you could always seek out another society or country that will meet your needs. Nobody is forcing you to stay where you are and defend your positions on a day to day basis. I'm not saying society should be able to dictate what you can and can't do, but it the vast majority are one way, and you are one of the very many few going the other way, then of course society is going to try and deem you an outcast.
 
nightarcher said:
Society has certain morals and rules that just aren't meant to be broken. If you have a problem with the way a certain society imposes their morals on your beliefs, you could always seek out another society or country that will meet your needs. Nobody is forcing you to stay where you are and defend your positions on a day to day basis. I'm not saying society should be able to dictate what you can and can't do, but it the vast majority are one way, and you are one of the very many few going the other way, then of course society is going to try and deem you an outcast.
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Ah, but not everybody can just leave, even if they want to. Take a look at what happened in Iraq, when the new leader started persecuting Sunni Muslims. He promised that "rivers of blood will flow" if they try to leave. What about them? Likewise, in a more civilized country, leaving still isn't an option for everyone. Often the better countries have their borders closed or heavily regulated (Likely because everyone wants to be there) and leaving your country could and often does mean you lose everything. It's not so black and white, that's why open mindedness is essential when approaching these things.
 
I think that I can side with what Sandra has said. If something doesn't appear to be wrong and may be of no significance to you then there is no need supporting and defending it. The truth is that the bizzare thing must be ok with you and thus you think it should be accepted not ignored! can you please come clear friend!
 
I'm not sure what you mean. If it's something that's not wrong to me and of no significance, I'm still going to defend it when others attack it. Only defending what is important to you seems kind of selfish to me.
 
FlipKup said:
I personally think that is hazardous to your well-being.

If you consistently have to support or agree with things that generally disgust you or freak you out, you are simply lying to yourself. I understand being open-minded to a cretain degree, but nobody was born to like everyhting in this world... life just is not that way. We have our preferences and our dislikes, its what makes us who we are.

What you are proposing is open-mindedness on a grand scale.
Which is in itself paradoxical.
Should you not be open-minded to those who choose to be close-minded?

It's not hurting anyone.
Click to expand...

I have to concur. I think that perhaps the grander point here is that when things do not harm others but are distasteful to us, we can and should defend their right to be practiced by others. However, that does not necessarily mean being open minded or accepting of them. Open mindedness is important, but it loses its value if you just automatically apply it to EVERYTHING.
 
I tend to agree with you for the most part. I think people should be allowed to do whatever they want to themselves, if it truly isn't hurting anyone or involves any real consequence. But it also isn't that black & white. The problem is a lot of these behaviors would and do affect other people. Often people engage in obsessive behaviors because there is an underlying issue going on, even a mental illness. When this occurs, I'm not sure the behavior or thing they are doing are truly making them happy, versus just being a distraction or avoidance. For example, hoarding isn't necessarily hurting anybody on a literal level. But usually there is something much bigger going on causing this behavior.
 
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