Open minded

[MRT]

I clearly don't understand the term 'open-minded'. On another forum, which claims to be open-minded, I recently suggested a natural explanation for some photos that everyone was puzzling over. I even tested the theory and showed that it worked! Were they grateful? Were they open-minded? Were they ****!

[MRT]

Sorry about that everyone, I was just a bit annoyed. I put in a lot of effort to reproduce a photo that had me puzzled for a long time. All I got for my efforts was snide remarks and suggestions that I needed to test some more (presumably until I reached some other conclusion though it looked a perfect fit to me). People claim to want explanations for paranormal phenomena but when you offer them one that works, they don't want to know. Talk about shoot the messenger!

[John Jackson]

I have always hated the 'open minded' quip that people come out with. When I used to visit other forums and try to engage in topics on alternative medicine etc. I would always try to post points backed up with evidence and reason. Then someone who believed in it would simply come back with something like "well I have an open mind".

Anyway. I wrote this: The Open Mind (http://www.ukskeptics.com/article.php?dir=articles&article=the_open_mind.php) to counter the argument and I just link people to it whenever it's used.

'Open-mind' is a virtue word or hooray word (or is it a phrase?) which makes it harder to counter than other expressions and that's why it's so horrible when it's used by credophiles.

[chillzero]

That's partly why I left the Living TV forums. They want you to be so open minded that your brain fell out years ago. :)

Well done for trying though. You should start a thread here with the 2 photos, to show us your efforts.

[John Jackson]

Actually that's a great idea Chilly. O0

MRT, if you have anomalous photos etc. perhaps you could post them one at a time and see whether we can work out what cause the effects.

I must admit that my knowledge of photography is very poor and I can't usually work out photographic anomalies until they're explained.

[Muttley]

I agree. A great idea.

Photography is a major interest of mine. I'm now intrigued to know what this is all about.

M.

[Mojo]

That's partly why I left the Living TV forums. They want you to be so open minded that your brain fell out years ago.


While being absolutely closed-minded themselves.

[MRT]

I get the impression that, to some people, the expression 'open minded' actually means 'consider anything you like so long as you decide it's hobgoblins in the end'.

I'll look out some photos to post later.

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

I get the impression that, to some people, the expression 'open minded' actually means 'consider anything you like so long as you decide it's hobgoblins in the end'.

I'll look out some photos to post later.

Or don't discount any explanation, unless it is the rational one

[Dr B]

They use the term to lend support to nonsense ideas they want to be true as opposed to those which are most likely to be true.

Saying 'yes' and saying 'no' is the most open-minded approach. There is nothing closed minded about considering an argument and saying 'no' to it and giving reasons.

As a system, science is the most open-minded as it admits its knowledge is only provisional and falsifiable - which is the most open-minded stance any knowledge system could take.