Broad/narrow-minded

[french frank]

But there is still confusion all round on this. Broad-mindedness is an attitude and approach.

We both agree on this. Other people, in my experience, equate broad tastes with broadmindedness. But we agree that they aren't the same thing, don't we? (Oh, dear, this is what I've been saying all along).

Or: in my experience, there are people who think that liking a wide range of music is better than liking a narrow range of music (and even pride themselves on liking 'all sorts of music').

If the researchers missed out classical, it's because they have been judgemental about music, and quite narrow-minded in their approach.

As I say, the researchers may not have missed it out: it could be that the reporter didn't mention it because he didn't think it was as interesting. I don't know.

And it's not about having broad tastes.

It depends what 'It' is. As I suggested, I don't think there would even be common agreement on what 'broad tastes' means.

[Beef Oven!]

We do agree that broad taste does not mean broad-mindedness - I'm struggling to understand why 'broad taste' keeps arising in the discussion (I hope I'm not guilty here, I've lost track!).

[Old Grumpy]

We do agree that broad taste does not mean broad-mindedness - I'm struggling to understand why 'broad taste' keeps arising in the discussion (I hope I'm not guilty here, I've lost track!).

I consider myself to have broad tastes (musically speaking), but I may not be broad-minded: I like what I like and I don't like what I dislike!

Of course, I am never narrow-minded (erhem).

OG

[antongould]

Going back to the opening post I really would mind being called a snob .......

[Beef Oven!]

Going back to the opening post I really would mind being called a snob .......

........that's a bit narrow-minded.

[richardfinegold]

Me neither, but I wouldn't like to be called narrow-minded.

I like what I like, I don't like what I don't like, and I've stopped giving a damn what other people call me. I am not going to waste my life trying to live up to some other aesthetic standards.

[MrGongGong]

I like what I like, I don't like what I don't like,

How do you know what you like?

and

Liking something can sometimes 'get in the way' of a deeper appreciation or understanding IMV

[Serial_Apologist]

Going back to the opening post I really would mind being called a snob .......

Isn't snobbery glorying in the imagined superiority of oneself and one's group, and therefore intended to keep out those one considers as inferior?

I guess some people probably do consider me as a musical snob, (not in other ways), but if correct that would be to redefine snobbery as non-exclusive or non-exclusionary if it is my wish to include as many people as possible in my tastes and interests in order to have what I consider interesting people to relate to, converse with and have as friends, and even convert to my perspectives - which would be ruled out if I thought of them and their likes as inferior to mine.

[doversoul1]

How do you know what you like?

and

Liking something can sometimes 'get in the way' of a deeper appreciation or understanding IMV

You may ask and tell that to the children/students you teach but a lot of us here are at the stage of life where we do know what we like and, as far as I am concerned, I have no need or time left to be messing about with listening to something I don’t like just for the sake of it. Music is a pleasure to me and I am terribly prejudiced, biased and narrow minded about what I do and don’t like. This suits me fine, and it is nobody’s business

[ed] Still, for the sake of this discussion, how do you know what you like and in what way does liking something get in the way of deep understanding etc.? No likks. In your own words please.

[Beef Oven!]

You may ask and tell that to the children/students you teach but a lot of us here are at the stage of life where we do know what we like and, as far as I am concerned, I have no need or time left to be messing about with listening to something I don’t like just for the sake of it. Music is a pleasure to me and I am terribly prejudiced, biased and narrow minded about what I do and don’t like. This suits me fine, and it is nobody’s business

[Pabmusic]

I've looked at many dictionary definitions of 'broadminded' and commonly they fall into two parts: a willingness to engage with something or at least be tolerant of it, and a disinclination to be shocked or offended. Although this might create the right atmosphere for doing so, it seems there's no requirement that a broadminded person actually like something.

Given this, 'broadminded' would seem to be an antonym of 'bigoted'.

As far as music goes, then, a broadminded person might not have to have a wide range of tastes, just be prepared to 'give it a go'. The result might be to uncover a new favourite or a new work to avoid.

[cloughie]

I like what I like, I don't like what I don't like, and I've stopped giving a damn what other people call me. I am not going to waste my life trying to live up to some other aesthetic standards.

Well said rfg - I guess many on these boards consider their musical tastes to be broad and those tastes will coincide with others in some places but not all. I don't really care whether people are broad minded, narrow minded, snobs, inverted snobs. I haven't really a clue as to what the thread has tried to show - whether you're writing it, listening to it, playing it or singing it - and I try to do all four with different degrees of success - enjoying music is surely what matters.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

How do you know what you like?

By experience.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I consider myself to have broad tastes (musically speaking), but I may not be broad-minded: I like what I like and I don't like what I dislike!
Of course, I am never narrow-minded (erhem).
OG

I think that anyone who can say "what is rubbish to you may not be rubbish to me (or anyone else)" is very definitely NOT "narrow-minded", OGgy.

After a third of a century in the teaching profession, I've grown a very thick skin towards whatever epithets others chose to describe me: "snob" and "narrow-minded" would be rather endearing in comparison to some! The point is, I think, not to be prescriptive/proscriptive about what others enjoy listening to. I have very definite likes and dislikes, but share OGgy's attitude - if other people get solace, enjoyment and strength from something I hate, I feel that I'm the loser. I wouldn't welcome Aus Italien on a concert programme, but would listen in (in the hope that my tastes have caught up with the work) - same with a Verdi opera (only more so).



And then, just as I'm patting myself on the back for my broad-mindedness, the words "Andrew" "Webber" and "Lloyd" get into an orderly queue and I positively relish my snobbery!!

[Mary Chambers]

By experience.

Exactly. It would show a lack of ability to discriminate (in its good sense), if after a lifetime of listening and performing I had not worked out what I liked and what I didn't. It's partly a matter of age, but it's also partly instinct.