| An open mind is like an open well. It is | | | | they were ignored by many. Some people didn't |
| easily contaminated by anything blowing in | | | | have an open mind after all -at least not |
| the wind. At least that is the problem with | | | | open to the most likely scenario. They wanted |
| what many call an open mind. For example, you | | | | a particular answer (space aliens) or wanted |
| may have heard someone called open minded | | | | the mystery to be maintained. To this day the |
| because he believes in visitors from space, | | | | tricksters make their designs only to have |
| bending spoons with mind power, and "remote | | | | paranormal "experts" tromp into the fields |
| viewing." But isn't this more a sign of a | | | | the following day and proclaim that no human |
| gullible mind? Let's look at a healthier | | | | could have done it. |
| definition. | | | | |
| | | | Note that being curious about the mystery, |
| Open Mind - A Definition | | | | and speculating about possible causes is not |
| | | | the problem. Being "receptive to new and |
| We all like to think that we are open minded. | | | | different ideas" is a good thing. Adopting |
| Here is what that means according to a couple | | | | beliefs without supporting evidence may not |
| different dictionaries: 1. Receptive to new | | | | be, however. Being receptive to the idea that |
| and different ideas or the opinions of | | | | previously unknown forces can cause things to |
| others; 2. Not narrow or conservative in | | | | happen is open minded, but it would also be |
| thought, expression, or conduct. | | | | very closed-minded to exclude the possibility |
| | | | that there are more normal explanations - |
| That sounds reasonable, and we might want to | | | | especially when the bulk of the evidence |
| fit those definitions. The problem comes when | | | | points to this. |
| we take this to mean that we must entertain | | | | |
| any idea regardless of merit, or that | | | | So what does it mean to have an open mind? To |
| believing in unlikely things is a sign of | | | | be receptive to new ideas and to avoid |
| open-mindedness. Then we begin to give too | | | | narrowness of thought, certainly. But being |
| much credit to faulty ideas and unsupportable | | | | open minded doesn't mean we have to accept |
| beliefs in the name of having an open mind. | | | | ideas that make no sense, or adopt beliefs |
| | | | without any evidence or reason. And it has to |
| For example, I watched a program on crop | | | | mean at least that we are open to the |
| circles the other day. These are circles and | | | | possibility that the explanations we would |
| other geometric shapes of flattened crops | | | | like or which are more interesting may be |
| that appear in fields around the world. For | | | | wrong. |
| years many speculated that spaceships from | | | | |
| other planets, "energy vortexes" and other | | | | You have a brain that can analyze various |
| outrageous things caused them. "Experts" | | | | possible explanations for things. An open |
| claimed that they could not have been caused | | | | mind may assure you that you consider all |
| by humans. Much of the public bought into | | | | those possibilities, but it shouldn't prevent |
| this hype in the name of having an open mind. | | | | you from discarding those explanations |
| | | | without evidence in favor of those with |
| Of course when several individuals and groups | | | | evidence. In other words, it should never be |
| finally claimed responsibility, and even | | | | an excuse to believe anything in the absence |
| showed exactly how they made the designs, | | | | of good thinking. |