My mind has been decidedly plagued recently, after writing on a rather controversial topic, in a column deemed by some a "cliché" and a "lame attempt at humor." Maybe so. It got me to think about what I wrote. I must say, however, it also got me to think about what other people thought about what I wrote. One person, who I will refer to as Mr. E, e-mailed me and told me that I was not open-minded and that he would "hold contempt towards me if I remained that way."

Mr. E labeled me young and unlearned in the modern world, and said once I was properly exposed, he was positive I would change my views. I pondered over this for some time before replying. I asked myself, was I "properly exposed" to basic knowledge and, as he coined it, information about the "modern world"? Did I think the way I thought because I am young?

I reached the conclusion that I was open-minded and I have experienced a lot about life that most people haven't. I have friends of all sorts, colors, backgrounds and personalities. I watch a variety of diverse TV shows. I have experienced situations most people don't dream about. I surf the Internet, read books and ask questions ­ all in search of the "different" point of view. I listen to all sides of a story, and I make sure I have knowledge about both before taking my stand on an issue.

Much to Mr. E's displeasure, I'm sure, I replied that he was, in reality, the closed-minded one of us two. Before labeling me a hostile and defensive freshman, who can't take constructive criticism I ask that you all think about this for a moment.

If you look up synonyms for "open-minded" you will find words like unbiased, unprejudiced and tolerant. However, the e-mails I have received over the past week or so have been anything but these words.

Mr. E, for example, took my one column, my opinion and my age and determined it enough to conclude I was inexperienced, uneducated, young and therefore closed-minded. Mr. E did not know of my exposure to controversial issues or anything regarding my background. He only knew that I was a freshman at this university who disagreed with his opinion.

Was he at fault for his lack of knowledge? Of course not. However, he is liable for the formation of his opinions. Therefore, I do believe him to be in the wrong when, because his opinion happened to be the more liberal point of view and I disagreed with it, he labeled me closed-minded.

Now, I must propose this question: what is the determinant for open-mindedness? Do all your opinions have to be against the norm of society? Or can just a few of them fall in with others in the mainstream? Do you have to be of a certain age to be qualified an open-minded person? Or should you have experienced certain aspects of life?

Should you even have to reach certain levels of of life experience to be able to comprehend the boundaries of liberalism? Do open-minded people reach an experience level so extreme and pivotal that they can judge a person based on a few facts learned from a newspaper column?

Tell me, what does it take to be open-minded? Because from what I have seen thus far from those who responded to my column, people fit more of a closed-minded role.

Of course, the average guy like Mr. E doesn't want to hear that he's closed-minded. However, let's think about it. When people e-mail you personally after searching for your address on WIN and dish out their opinions and insults without even sending the newspaper a response, does that show that you are tolerant and unbiased?

When people label you closed-minded because you oppose the opinions of the majority, doesn't that convey an attitude of prejudice?

Expressing your beliefs through an e-mail is one thing, but taking a harsh tone and labeling somebody because they disagree with you is another ball game. But if this is considered today's idea of being "open-minded," by all means let me know. If it is I don't want to be a part of it, and you may certainly call me closed-minded.

I like to believe that I'm an open-minded person. I am always willing to listen to other people's ideas. That's why I even read through the e-mails, rather than deleting them after the first line. And I can't deny that I've learned things from them, both about my topic and the defense mechanisms people throw up when they get hit in a soft spot.

Unfortunately, I also believe that everyone is close-minded to some extent, including myself. People are close-minded to the idea of what it really means to be open or close-minded.

I understand that people won't always agree, but I wonder if our own instinctive nature will ever allow us to really listen. Can human nature ever enable us to sit down and truly comprehend what the other side has to say? Can human nature ever permit us to thoroughly understand where another person is coming from? Although we often say we do this, do we really? That would mean admitting that we could possibly be wrong. Mankind is too stubborn for that.

Yet, I still hang on to hope that one day they, we, nor I will be.