A Solution to Misconceptions in Thinking

A Solution to the Misconception of 'Open-Minded’ Thinking Among Netizens
By: Fadhila Uzlifati Matsna
Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training
Chemistry Education Student
UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta

In the era of globalisation, every aspect of life inevitably changes and develops, including the way people think. Every human being lives in a different environment, and their nature, character and morals are strongly influenced by the environment in which they live. Every human being also has the right to freedom of opinion. However, this freedom of opinion is often misinterpreted by some people. We can see in the current phenomenon that many people use social media as a place to express opinions, yet in ways that run contrary to the norms that apply in Indonesia. 
The Shifting Meaning of Open-Minded
An open-minded person is someone who is willing to accept alternative possibilities and different ways of thinking, and who is willing to face doubts about the positions they have built. Thinking openly, or being open-minded, can also be understood as an attitude of openness towards various opinions, information and ideas, and of looking at a matter from many sides, not just one. 
However, open-minded is now understood by most social media users as a label for people who are racist, who normalise Western culture and who make Western culture the benchmark of their lives. This view arises from people who pretentiously consider themselves open-minded, so that in the end the meaning of open-minded has come to be regarded as negative.
Those who consider themselves open-minded feel they are the most right people in the world. They look down on those who disagree with them and call them 'old-fashioned' because their thinking in fact still holds tightly to local customs and cultural norms as well as ethics on social media. Those who feel their thinking is open consider themselves quick to accept new views, yet they end up disturbing other people's life choices and belittling the thinking of people who are not used to new views, whom they call close-minded.

The Causes of the ‘Open-Minded’ Misconception
Wars of opinion between netizens often occur on social media. This happens because, when we draw conclusions about something, we are sometimes bound to a certain belief, or frame, that limits our point of view. For that reason, humans are prone to errors in drawing conclusions. Not only that, because humans are unique living beings, the conclusions and opinions of each individual are bound to differ. 
Everyone's critical thinking ability differs; according to Stanovich (2016), part of this difference is caused by differences in the knowledge and skills each individual has. Besides differences in knowledge and skills, there are also differences in the dispositions, traits and attitudes of each individual. One part of disposition that is seen as underlying critical thinking is the actively open-minded thinking style. 

Building an Open-Minded Way of Thinking
It cannot be denied that the development of the times requires us to adapt so that we can compete with others. Fundamentally, an open-minded way of thinking is important to apply in daily life, especially once we enter the world of work. Because every person is unique and different, if we do not have open thinking we will find it hard to identify problems, produce effective solutions and socialise.
There are several ways we can develop open thinking. First, be diligent in socialising and widening your network. By socialising we can exchange opinions and broaden our insight. Second, avoid the habit of making assumptions. Making too many assumptions is an obstacle to open thinking. It is better to look for information directly than merely to keep assuming.  Third, be wise in responding to things. If you receive information whose truth is uncertain, do not immediately conclude that it is true. An open-minded person will respond to things wisely and calmly. Do not let wrong thinking or conclusions become our excuse for justifying ‘open-minded’.
Those are some misconceptions about open-minded thinking and ways to build a proper open-minded way of thinking. As smart netizens, we must be able to understand differences among one another and keep applying ethics on social media.

Newspaper link : http://m.harianmomentum.com/read/37456/harian-momentum-edisi-4-november-2021