Filters: Why do we use them?

I’m taking a computer science class and in the last session the topic was filters, applying them to Excel sheets, Access and even PowerPoint. The feature is a simple drop down box. Sometimes a benchmark is needed, but overall quite easy to use.

I quickly applied this concept to my personal life…as I’m sure most of us do. We filter out the negative aspects of people in our relationships and focus on the positive. Loud obnoxious friends are seen as people with lively personalities. Soft-spoken timid friends are seen as behind-the-scenes supporters. Natural groups form because of common interest, but what if you hadn’t met the people and only knew them from electronic submissions?

Needless to say recent political figure Weiner should have filtered more.

My on-line critique group met at a writer’s conference for the first time a few months ago. When face to face I found that I didn’t filter very well. Each previously overlooked tick became alive and jumped all around removing the rose-colors. People I previously liked and used as heroic characters in my books became gossipy hurtful villains.


How easy is it to filter out the negatives when face to face with someone you like, admire, respect or thought had similar values as you?

How much should a person filter before they lose their sense of character and/or alter their values?

Do you think we should use filters or see each person as a hero?