"Open-Mindedness"

[TithonusSyndrome]

Another video from the same people who brought you that excellent video on how science works.

Is there any way to make these videos required viewing for... well, everyone everywhere?

[Posner]

Thanks for the link. If scientists weren't open minded, there just wouldn't be science.

[Ilya Muromets]

That is a great video. I always hated that little misconception of open-mindedness. And I like how clear, concise, and calm the narration is. It's actually kind of soothing in a way.

[defanatic]

I agree with everyone above, and the video.

Important stuff to take from it: Believing everything you hear isn't open minded.

[DPDarkPrimus]

People sound so much smarter when they have those sorts of accents.

[Terralthra]

I found this video about 9 minutes and 25 seconds too long. It became an exercise in seeing how many ways the guy could drone in his monotone that open-mindedness means being open to new ideas, not accepting new ideas without evidence.

[PeZook]

If you consider the target audience of the clip, it's probably half an hour too short.

[General Zod]

Can someone post a tl;dr summary for those of us who don't want to bother watching the video just to find out what it's babbling about? I have a very vague idea from the thread title but something useful would be nice.

[Aranfan]

Can someone post a tl;dr summary for those of us who don't want to bother watching the video just to find out what it's babbling about? I have a very vague idea from the thread title but something useful would be nice.

Basically "Open-mindedness" =/= "accepting new ideas without evidence". There's a bit on how anecdotes can be misleading, and there's also a lot about the importance of having an evidence filter in addition to an open mind.

[Wyrm]

I found this video about 9 minutes and 25 seconds too long. It became an exercise in seeing how many ways the guy could drone in his monotone that open-mindedness means being open to new ideas, not accepting new ideas without evidence.

You know, when I was writing essays, I had to support my thesis with arguments, evidence, and examples. I guess it's a lost art.

[Terralthra]

I found this video about 9 minutes and 25 seconds too long. It became an exercise in seeing how many ways the guy could drone in his monotone that open-mindedness means being open to new ideas, not accepting new ideas without evidence.

You know, when I was writing essays, I had to support my thesis with arguments, evidence, and examples. I guess it's a lost art.

You know, when I'm grading essays, if an essay goes on for 5 pages after the point is made and supported, the grade goes down. Examples and arguments are fine, but 10 minutes' worth is massive overkill for such a simple concept.

[Pablo Sanchez]

You know, when I'm grading essays, if an essay goes on for 5 pages after the point is made and supported, the grade goes down. Examples and arguments are fine, but 10 minutes' worth is massive overkill for such a simple concept.

Obviously the video is not intended primarily to entertain people who already understand skeptical and scientific systems of thought, but rather to educate people who do not. Because these people are predisposed to reject its thesis out of hand, the video explains itself methodically and repeatedly. Alternatively it's a walkthrough guide for inexperienced skeptics who don't know how to make others understand logical thought processes. Either way, your complaint is misplaced, like an adult whining about how the Count on Sesame Street takes too long to figure out how many apples he has. Maybe the problem is that the video isn't for you?

[Kodiak]

You know, when I'm grading essays, if an essay goes on for 5 pages after the point is made and supported, the grade goes down. Examples and arguments are fine, but 10 minutes' worth is massive overkill for such a simple concept.

Obviously the video is not intended primarily to entertain people who already understand skeptical and scientific systems of thought, but rather to educate people who do not. Because these people are predisposed to reject its thesis out of hand, the video explains itself methodically and repeatedly. Alternatively it's a walkthrough guide for inexperienced skeptics who don't know how to make others understand logical thought processes. Either way, your complaint is misplaced, like an adult whining about how the Count on Sesame Street takes too long to figure out how many apples he has. Maybe the problem is that the video isn't for you?

If I were a public school science teacher I would consider showing this movie to my class in order to help them understand what critical thinking means and what it does NOT mean. As entertainment, this video certainly is poor quality at best. As a teaching tool, I think it's phenomenal.

[CaptainChewbacca]

People sound so much smarter when they have those sorts of accents.

I'm going to have to ask for more evidence before I accept this idea. Seriously, this video is AMAZING, and if/when I become a science teacher, I'm going to show it on the first day of class every year.