Fred Nietzsche writes "We criticize a thinker more sharply when he presents us with a displeasing proposition; and yet it would be more reasonable to do this when his proposition pleases us."
Fred Nietzsche writes, “We criticize a thinker more sharply when he presents us with a displeasing proposition; and yet it would be more reasonable to do this when his proposition pleases us.” We’re starting this week off with What You Ought To Know about having an open mind. Why, you ask? Just wait and see. We have a whole lot of displeasing this week.
Some people love the expression, and others hate it. But just like being cool, the more you find yourself telling people you’re open minded, the less likely it is that you really are.
What? I’m totally cool! I am cool! How come you can’t see how cool I am? I mean, how cool is cool- If you’re not me, you don’t even know what cool is, ’cause…I’m cool.
You see, being open minded should convey itself in the way you discuss an issue, the way you present your opinions, and perhaps most importantly, how you treat the opinions of others.
You suck! And that’s starting out on the right foot.
Having an open mind doesn’t mean you have to agree with what someone says. And having a strong opinion and being open minded are not necessarily contradictory. Being open minded means no more or less than being willing to listen, recognize, and even look for the validity of the supporting arguments on both sides of an issue.
Both sides!
Because there really are two sides to every issue, and in my experience it’s possible to find reasonable, likable people who fall on both sides of any controversial topic, usually for good reasons.
Of course there are two sides to every argument. There’s my side, and the losing side.
Here’s a little test for you. When you’re confronted with an idea that you don’t like, or that you don’t agree with, what’s running through your mind? I am prepping my rebuttal even before you’re done talking! My argument has nothing but strengths, and yours, weak sauce! If you don’t believe what I believe, you’re an idiot. I don’t hate what you think, I just hate that you’re thinking!
If you’re so mad that your face turns beet red, and little spit flecks are coming out of your mouth, and you’re shaking all over, you’re probably not open minded.
Wars of ideas quickly translate into violence because people aren’t open minded. We put our blinders on and become antagonistic when we feel strongly about a particular subject. But all that hostility usually comes from insecurity, because your arguments are more emotional than they are logical.
No! I said- You- No- It’s- It’s not the- What you- You’re wrong! And you can’t stand that there may be some truth to what they’re saying.
So while watching the show this week, and arguing with your friends about how cool I am, remember to listen to what they have to say, and agree with the valid points that they make. Find your common ground, and then feel free to disagree with the conclusions they draw…through rational discussion.
Evelyn Hall said Voltaire said it best: “I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” That is open minded.
And if you don’t agree with everything we said in this show, you are not open minded.
Transcribed by: FanOfAr
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22 Comments
AredhelCarnesir
I must agree with Brett on this. I see this all the time at school, arguments when people refuse to ...Satya Agraha
Science Avenger! Have you forgotten why there are two sides to every arguement? It's because everyone on earth is a ...thegreatone
another interpretation to the statement "there are two sides to every issue"-if someone has an idea, then that idea is ...WVI
I agree; more people should bend themselves to my particular brand of openmindedness. After all, I may not agree with ...Meandering
I'm open minded, its like a big wind tunnel in there!steph
i do think i need to have a little bit more of an open mind, but maybe thats why im ...Phil
Even after rereading your original post twice, I /also/ missed your supposed point about "more than two sides". In fact, ...Science Avenger
I can see John Bay missed my point entirely, which is that there are often many more than two sides ...Phil
John Bay, #10: All your arguments are faulty because you jumped from reason 4 to reason 6. Naah, just kidding. Good ...AnotherSqueezedRadish(orTurnip?)
John Bay, Amen brutha, "Science" Avenger, Check your science (and your scientific method), And oh yeah, here's one to make you really red ...Phil
A classic scene in "Fiddler on the Roof": The town rabbi is confronted by an argument between two villagers. To the ...The Brothers Winn
An argument about arguing, eh Phil? Well, winning is generally important with people who like to argue, so I ...John Bay
Science Avenger, here is a short list of errors and misrepresentations in this one post alone. 1. By definition ...Phil
If there are two sides to every argument, then try this argument out for size: Mr. X argues that there are ...buttfactoid
Science Avenger, Two sides to every story, does not mean that the other side is right. You just need to be ...Science Avenger
Two sides to every argument? Tell me, what are the "two sides" of the issue of carbon offsets? ...Alex
Oh my god, I laughed so hard at that closing statement :). I actually consider myself open-minded. This of course means ...John from NIU
depends on how many cars were in the accident and how many eyewitnesses there were at the scene, Ingrid. :)Ingrid
only two sides to every story? I always thought there were at least ten...Lilmissgeek
-sits back and enjoys the fun-Dave
I shall be very displeased if I am insufficiently displeased by the displeasing claims you promise. I think. Wait. Er... ...John from NIU
So say we all! A+ However, ponder this: "Let's be open minded, but not to the point where our brains fall ...