# Is calling someone "close-minded" an insult? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 3, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265 "2014-04-03T16:21:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/1 "2014-04-03T16:21:32Z")
I just received an [official warning](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17254731&postcount=199) for saying that a certain poster was close-minded on the subject of vaccinations. I don’t think anyone has ever been warned for doing that before, and I’m pretty sure it _has_ been done before without any warnings being issued…but I’ll gladly concede this point if I’ve just missed previous warnings or admonishments concerning this. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/2 "2014-04-03T16:27:58Z")
I issued that one and I’ll explain my reasoning. I realize you may disagree, but to my eyes the use of a dismissive tone, with a derogatory statement and the use of ‘your’ constitutes an insult. It’s a direct statement at another poster and doesn’t in any way address a specific post that adaher made. That really is the sort of thing you should - at this stage of the game - know enough to avoid. ETA: Protip: Anytime you characterize a post as ‘calling someone a…’ it’s a good bet it’s something you should think twice about posting. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/3 "2014-04-03T16:42:20Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > I issued that one and I’ll explain my reasoning. > > I realize you may disagree, but to my eyes the use of a dismissive tone, with a derogatory statement and the use of ‘your’ constitutes an insult. It’s a direct statement at another poster and doesn’t in any way address a specific post that adaher made. That really is the sort of thing you should - at this stage of the game - know enough to avoid. > > ETA: Protip: Anytime you characterize a post as ‘calling someone a…’ it’s a good bet it’s something you should think twice about posting. I think that’s a rather broad definition of “insult” when it comes giving official warnings, especially when there doesn’t seem to be any precedent for this “insult” resulting in a warning, official or otherwise. If it is now considered an insult to accuse someone of being close-minded, I would humbly request that my official warning be reduced to an admonishment…which I would take to heart and follow. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/4 "2014-04-03T17:35:32Z")
Tough modding… FTR, I’ll quote the interaction in full. Starting on page 4 of the thread. > [@Is there any good reason not to mandate national vaccination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-reason-not-to-mandate-national-vaccination/684447/186): > > I don’t know if it’s been mentioned, but I’d say the abortion debate answers this question. We’ve established that medical decisions are between patients and their doctors and the government has no right to intervene. Nor can the government force people to undergo medical procedures. If you can’t force people to undergo ultrasounds, you can’t force people to have needles stuck in them. > > Plus, people do die from vaccines. The risk is tiny, but in a large population, some do die, and making people buy that particular lottery ticket is not justifiable. > > I think the anti-vax crowd has done the country a lot of harm, but we’re talking basic rights here. > [@Is there any good reason not to mandate national vaccination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-reason-not-to-mandate-national-vaccination/684447/187): > > > [@Is there any good reason not to mandate national vaccination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-reason-not-to-mandate-national-vaccination/684447/186): > > > > I don’t know if it’s been mentioned… > > Then why don’t you read the thread and find out? Why should we have to pretend that the conversation started when you arrived and that none of the previous points addressing your concerns haven’t already been made? Sometimes it’s like a take-off of that Sandler/Barrymore comedy, _Fifty First Dates_, only with this topic( and a few other I could mention) it’s _Fifty First Posts_. > [@Is there any good reason not to mandate national vaccination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-reason-not-to-mandate-national-vaccination/684447/189): > > Well, since we have actually established that we cannot force people to undergo medical procedures, I’d say it’s an open and shut case. > [@Is there any good reason not to mandate national vaccination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-reason-not-to-mandate-national-vaccination/684447/190): > > The topic is open, your mind is shut, and you have no case. Speaking generally. Speaking generally, there ought to be some scope for member characterizations of other board member behavior that falls short of pittable offenses. Also, I don’t know whether Czarcasm would have been modded if he kept the same sentence, but threw in a softener. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/5 "2014-04-03T17:46:11Z")
[hijack] I thought the term was “closed-minded,” not “close-minded” (you’re saying their mind is **closed** , not that it’s **close** ). But upon [further](http://grammarist.com/spelling/closed-minded/) [research](http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/28866/what-would-you-call-a-person-who-doesnt-want-to-learn-anything-new/28868#28868), it appears to be an open (and somewhat controversial) question. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/6 "2014-04-03T17:47:16Z")
Sorry, I just don’t see an insult there. I don’t necessarily agree with **Czarcasm** ’s position on whether vaccinations should be required by law, but his statement seems to be well within the commonly understood rules for Great Debates. I wouldn’t even consider it rude, much less a warnable offense. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/7 "2014-04-03T17:52:33Z")
Ok, well it isn’t about closed-minded, or close-minded. The phrasing is ‘… your mind is shut…’, as a play on the the phrase ‘… an open and shut case…’. I don’t know, but a caution would seem more appropriate in this case. Perhaps **Czarcasm** being a former mod was getting the harsh treatment like a former cop who commits a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/8 "2014-04-03T18:14:58Z")
**Czarcasm** , you were a mod? Respect! Did you hand in your spurs willingly, or were you drummed out like in Gunsmoke? (I think that was the show. Ed and Tuba ripping off your epaulets…) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/9 "2014-04-03T18:17:51Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > **Czarcasm** , you were a mod? Respect! > > Did you hand in your spurs willingly, or were you drummed like in Gunsmoke? (I think that was the show. Ed and Tuba ripping off your epaulets…) It wasn’t “Gunsmoke”-it was “Branded”, with Chuck Conners and no, that ain’t the way it happened. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/10 "2014-04-03T18:25:11Z")
You insulted the poster and not the post. Good modding here. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/11 "2014-04-03T18:31:01Z")
Heck, I’ve seen **Miller** dole out snark like that and he’s a Mod! So if it’s okay for the mods to snark like that the same rules should apply to everyone else. But yeah, it’s definitely a grey area. [The above is not a criticism of **Miller**. I think he’s a fine mod. I’m just trying to illustrate a point.] ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/12 "2014-04-03T18:48:20Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > You insulted the poster and not the post. No he didn’t. That doesn’t even approach “insult”. It’s not even in gray territory. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/13 "2014-04-03T19:19:54Z")
I know my opinion doesn’t carry any weight, but if there was an insult, it was mild. The warning should be rescinded and just have been mod-noted. If someone called me a dumbass, I’d be insulted. Not insulted if someone insinuated my mind was closed. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/14 "2014-04-03T19:39:24Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > **Czarcasm** , you were a mod? Respect! > > Did you hand in your spurs willingly, or were you drummed out like in Gunsmoke? (I think that was the show. Ed and Tuba ripping off your epaulets…) More like _Papillon_. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/15 "2014-04-03T21:01:50Z")
I’m not seeing an insult. If this is a new standard, then we’ll see a whole lotta moddin’ goin’ on in the future. Comments like the one in question are routinely posted in GD. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/16 "2014-04-03T21:06:40Z")
I’m fine with it. If calling someone a liar is verboten, “close minded” is certainly about the same level of insult ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/17 "2014-04-03T21:10:47Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > I’m fine with it. If calling someone a liar is verboten, “close minded” is certainly about the same level of insult That’s quite a leap. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/18 "2014-04-03T21:20:14Z")
As insults go, it ain’t exactly “pistols at dawn” material. Maybe it’d be simpler to just ban the words “you” and “your” in Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/19 "2014-04-03T21:20:29Z")
Do we now need to change the underlying rule of posting on the SDMB, “don’t be a jerk”? Because that’s pretty insulting. Certainly far more abrasive than “your mind is shut”. In fact, we should probably not use the word “ignorance” in the byline either, that’s negative as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265/20 "2014-04-03T21:22:10Z")
FWIW, and it ain’t worth much, and since it is arguably a gray area, perhaps a Mod Note is more appropriate. If that. It doesn’t seem to descend to the level of a personal insult. “Your mind is shut” is not usually, and was not in this instance, much of a mode of argumentation - usually it just means “You are stubbornly refusing to agree with me and I am rightrightright”. It’s not like **adaher** was refusing to put forth arguments in favor of his position, and whether you agree or not that the abortion example establishes that the state cannot force people to undergo medical procedures when they don’t want to, it is a reasonable position. In short, it seems more like lazy argumentation rather than insult. But not worthy of a Warning. I would say that this is my $.02 worth, but it probably isn’t worth that much. Regards, Shodan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-calling-someone-close-minded-an-insult/685265.md?page=2)