How Open Minded Do You Consider Yourself?
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  How Open Minded Do You Consider Yourself?
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Poll
Question: How Open Minded Do You Consider Yourself?
#1
Very Open Minded, Always Looking For Good Argument To Build On My Views
 
#2
Moderately Open Minded, There Is A Fairly Reasonable Chance Someone Could Sway Me
 
#3
A Little Open Minded, The Overwhelming Odds Are That No One Will Sway My Views
 
#4
I Know The Other Side Is Wrong, So I Don't Really Care How They Argue Their Points
 
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Partisan results

Total Voters: 62

Author Topic: How Open Minded Do You Consider Yourself?  (Read 4892 times)
TJ in Oregon
TJ in Cleve
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« Reply #25 on: October 17, 2011, 10:23:45 PM »

I voted Option 3, but it depends a lot on the issue at hand. I'm certainly more open-minded when it comes to economic issues than social issues.

In a lot of ways, I'm more open-minded in politics than I am in other areas of life. I was told last year that I was the most stubborn person on the cross-country team. I used to have a notecard hanging above my desk that said "No Compromise" on it in bold, red letters. Sometimes I take it levels that make me my own worst enemy.
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Mercenary
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« Reply #26 on: October 18, 2011, 07:29:20 AM »

Someone could sway my views. They have been swayed over the years. Heck even this last year I've shifted quite a bit on my views on economic matters as well as regulatory matters.

Although it has never been one person who has changed my views. It is probably the sum of many discussions combined with events that have changed them. I can think one particular topic where I ended up actually convincing myself of the position I was originally against.

There is at least one issue I've never shifted on and never will though, so I guess you can say I'm "closed minded" there, but considering the issue I am proud to be firm on that. Most any other issue though I've at least considered the opposing position if not actually at one time had it.

All of this has resulted in my views being a mix of some extreme right, extreme left, and a few moderate positions thrown in.
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fezzyfestoon
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« Reply #27 on: October 18, 2011, 10:30:09 AM »

In particular to those that answered the top 2(but anybody can answer) is there a particular style of argument you tend to prefer? Do you feel more comfortable "letting your guard down" among others that have similar views to your own or is it pretty equal no matter what their views are in relation to your own?

Somebody who respects my views and isn't just preaching at me. Most political conversation is based on "you're wrong and need to know it" rather than "here's how I'm looking at it that makes me think differently". People too easily slip into the mentality that them talking about politics is as important as Obama and Boehner talking about politics. Our political discourse in this country is delusional at best. And it's being cultivated to be like that by our "news" outlets.
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Wonkish1
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« Reply #28 on: October 18, 2011, 10:40:30 AM »

In particular to those that answered the top 2(but anybody can answer) is there a particular style of argument you tend to prefer? Do you feel more comfortable "letting your guard down" among others that have similar views to your own or is it pretty equal no matter what their views are in relation to your own?

Somebody who respects my views and isn't just preaching at me. Most political conversation is based on "you're wrong and need to know it" rather than "here's how I'm looking at it that makes me think differently". People too easily slip into the mentality that them talking about politics is as important as Obama and Boehner talking about politics. Our political discourse in this country is delusional at best. And it's being cultivated to be like that by our "news" outlets.

Appreciate the answer!
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RIP Robert H Bork
officepark
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« Reply #29 on: October 18, 2011, 12:35:13 PM »

I consider the phrase 'open-minded' to be too overused/misused to have any real meaning.
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John Dibble
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« Reply #30 on: October 18, 2011, 01:11:07 PM »

I'm very open minded so long as you don't set my bulls**t detector off. After that I'm not that inclined to listen unless you can provide some real facts and evidence.
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Hash
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« Reply #31 on: October 18, 2011, 06:42:10 PM »

A mix of all options, though option 2 in balance. One subjects where my knowledge is limited and my opinion, by consequence, far more shaky or not really well built up; I am certainly quite open-minded and somebody with better knowledge than me (as long as they're not some nutjob) could certainly convince me and change my views. On other stuff where I think my knowledge is pretty solid and my opinion pretty solid, I'm a little open minded but there's little chance my views could change. On political issues which I feel strongly about ("moral issues" or some fiscal issues), then there's little chance of one swaying me over. On the Harper government and the Conservative Party of Canada's record, then I'm totally not open minded and there's nothing which will make me change my views, because Harper is the Antichrist.
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LastVoter
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« Reply #32 on: October 18, 2011, 07:28:25 PM »

Option 2.
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Filuwaúrdjan
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« Reply #33 on: October 18, 2011, 07:59:21 PM »


I thought the Antichrist was supposed to be charismatic?
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The Mikado
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« Reply #34 on: October 18, 2011, 11:26:19 PM »

I don't change my mind easily, but it has happened.  Michel Foucault caused me to reevaluate many of the things I "knew," for example.  So did Edward Said.
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TJ in Oregon
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« Reply #35 on: October 18, 2011, 11:46:56 PM »

I've also found over the years that on the rare occasions that my mind is completely changed about something, it is almost always changed by a person I start out agreeing with. When I read or hear something I expect to disagree with, that's exactly what happens. But, on occasion I hear someone I agree with on an issue say something that makes me realize I'm on the wrong side.

It usually doesn't change my mind on the spot. It's more that I realize two different aspects of my belief system are in irreparably conflict and one has to change.
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Queen Mum Inks.LWC
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« Reply #36 on: October 19, 2011, 12:04:37 AM »

I voted option 3.  But, it's not so much that I'm not open-minded, it's that I research and have thought through most of my opinions.  Now, I'll listen to anybody and engage in debate and discussion, and when I feel that my opinion is lacking, I'm open to change (marijuana and DADT being 2 big things I've changed, but those were years ago).

So, it's not so much I'm closed minded, but on most issues, I've already looked at both (or several) sides to already come to my opinion.
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Torie
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« Reply #37 on: October 19, 2011, 02:43:31 PM »

I voted moderately open-minded.  I have some core principles about politics that I think have become fairly stable.  But I'm open to arguments as to what are the best ways to fulfill those principles provided that the arguments appeal to evidence and are transparent about their working assumptions.  Of course, every once in a while, a core principle can change too, but it happens less often to me now, which may be yet another depressing consequence of just getting older.  Still, time can, and will, change all things.  Therefore, wisdom dies whenever one stops learning from the world and others.

Exactly.
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Insula Dei
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« Reply #38 on: October 19, 2011, 06:01:21 PM »

In the current political context of course, 'being open minded' and 'open to interesting, new perspectives' really mean 'being willing to eat whatever it is the masters decide to feed you'.

"Oh dear, I now see how unions really kill jobs and make life worse for your average worker."

"Raising taxes on the poor is so completely the right decision, when you think about it."

Case in point: contemporary libertarianism, the TED abomination (though this is not openly rightwing, it serves to foster a thought-toxic climate)

I'm a proud leftwing dogmaticist myself.
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tpfkaw
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« Reply #39 on: October 19, 2011, 06:16:34 PM »

Well I have had a pretty dramatic shift in views, from latte liberal (kid version) to anarcho-capitalist, and it was pretty much set off by the influence of others and how I've chosen to educate myself.  Then again, I think I've always been pretty sympathetic to libertarian points of view in the abstract, it's just that society always teaches people to think about things in certain ways, or that to oppose Dubya you have to support the Democrats, etc.  You kind of have to be open-minded towards a different point of view if you become a libertarian (unless you're one of those types who get to that position by squaring a circle, e.g. "I'm Republican and gay," "I'm a Republican who smokes pot," etc.).  However, you're probably not going to get me to change my opinion on much by arguing with me on the internet, and while I'm still young I certainly feel like this is pretty much going to be my value-system, so option 4, to be honest.

Things my mind might be changed on are things that are iffy from a libertarian perspective morally (i.e. abortion, voting, how much one should be allowed to take from the state), or on a utilitarian basis (i.e. illegal immigration given the current welfare, education, etc. policy), though of those my position is only really fluid on abortion.
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afleitch
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« Reply #40 on: October 20, 2011, 04:23:43 AM »

I think I'm broadly open minded, but the rational part of my brain kicks in a lot (aspergers woot!) when I focus on alot of issues, especially ones that are considered 'moral'; this leads me to taking very relaxed positions on those issues because social authoritarianism/conservatism is often an irrational response to a social issue. Appeals to tradition and more recently faith don't hold much with me. On economics I'm generally right of centre but they change depending on the state of the economy (as they should) For example about a year ago I would have backed away from big government capital investment programmes during an economic downturn, but it's been done in Scotland, is working, is measured so I now cannot oppose it on a purely ideological basis.
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Marokai Backbeat
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« Reply #41 on: October 20, 2011, 04:37:02 AM »

I consider myself very open minded, but not to the point that I'm some sort of political chameleon that will just take on whatever I've been most recently exposed to. I try to look up the vast majority of things before I speak on them, so while I'm open minded, most of my views are based in a relatively solid foundation.

Considering myself to have a very very high respect for empirical evidence, being open-minded is a requirement. I am swayed by concrete and irrefutable evidence that something works or does not work. I have the added bias of wanting things to work that are also fair and just, but I try not to get too subjective with that little "filter" on things, as it were. Appeals to tradition ("this is the way the founders wanted it!"), or on pointless principles ("it's about freedom and keeping the government off our backs!") don't tend to make me move very much.
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fezzyfestoon
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« Reply #42 on: October 20, 2011, 09:41:04 AM »

I consider myself very open minded, but not to the point that I'm some sort of political chameleon that will just take on whatever I've been most recently exposed to. I try to look up the vast majority of things before I speak on them, so while I'm open minded, most of my views are based in a relatively solid foundation.

Considering myself to have a very very high respect for empirical evidence, being open-minded is a requirement. I am swayed by concrete and irrefutable evidence that something works or does not work. I have the added bias of wanting things to work that are also fair and just, but I try not to get too subjective with that little "filter" on things, as it were. Appeals to tradition ("this is the way the founders wanted it!"), or on pointless principles ("it's about freedom and keeping the government off our backs!") don't tend to make me move very much.

Amen
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The_Texas_Libertarian
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« Reply #43 on: October 20, 2011, 04:14:04 PM »

Each option depends on the issue; as a person with a background in science I always follow the evidence and not the talking points.
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Gustaf
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« Reply #44 on: October 25, 2011, 11:49:06 AM »

Since I don't really have a strong partisan affiliation (nor, really, an ideological one) I'm not sure the concept is applicable to me. There isn't really something for me to be close-minded about the way it is for someone who will reflexively support the Democratic or Republican position.

Because of that, issues for me tend to fall into two categories: those where I have come to an opinion by thinking long and hard about it and those where I don't really care. On the former, I rarely change my mind, on the latter I do quite often. I wouldn't call either of them evidence for me being close-minded or open-minded though.

Since I view most issues as trade-offs I can change my mind on a trade-off without changing my fundamental perspective very much as well.
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Dr. Cynic
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« Reply #45 on: October 25, 2011, 01:19:23 PM »

I don't change my mind much, but I have evolved my views on economics quite a bit. I'm less protectionist and I've changed my views completely on the death penalty and affirmative action. So, it's happened.
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The_Texas_Libertarian
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« Reply #46 on: October 25, 2011, 01:22:33 PM »
« Edited: October 25, 2011, 01:28:19 PM by TXMichael »

I don't change my mind much, but I have evolved my views on economics quite a bit. I'm less protectionist and I've changed my views completely on the death penalty and affirmative action. So, it's happened.

The death penalty is one where I also changed my mind completely since becoming politically engaged
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