[insertniftyphrase]

Spam. No, not the kind they have in cans. But the kind that stacks up in your email inbox. Most of it “dissappears” in a special “Junk Mail” section thanks to a spam filter. Hooray for spam filters!

Spam. It’s everywhere. It’s the stuff you don’t really need. Or tricks you in pretending to be something you might need, to then lure you into getting a closer look. And what do you know? What’s that shit? It’s bullshit! Why am I reading this? What made me move my mouse pointer all the way that odd looking title, picture or name in the first place? I know it’s bullshit yet I am looking at it, wasting another pointless second on it!

But you can click away. You can click on the red x in the right corner of your screen with that same mouse pointer. Or just hit ctrl-alt-delete and choose the option “Exit”. See, no more bullshit to look at. And if you actually actually did just that (press x, held in the ctr-alt-delete to choose exit – i.e. shut off your computer) and then choose to read that same bullshit you just read a a second ago; you have no choice but to admit it; you like bullshit.

Anyway… How about filtering bullshit in day-to-day conversations, huh? I was sitting with a co-worker having a smoke. I don’t talk much during my smoke break, it depends sometimes… But anyway, these 2 older female co-workers happened to be on their breaks too. And they kept going on and on about whether or not to get themselves a christmas tree already. And about the fact that people are working late shifts while it’s snowing outside. And about that sugar cube that just fell. They ramble on and on and on about… Bullshit. They are fun. But when there is no OFF button, it can be quite tiring for some.

So this other co-worker who I was having a smoke with asked me softly; “How can anyone put up with that ongoing noise?! It’s torture!” he said. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I learned to filter the bullshit. And if it’s interesting enough I might actually respond.” I said. The guy laughed. “I want that! But I rather wished they had an off button.” he said.

It’s not that hard really. It basically means that I don’t listen, yet listen at the same time. It’s like scanning through your mailbox, scanning all the titles and names in the inbox. Anything you rather not get into, you mark as spam or throw in the trash.

It might be a little rude. But people don’t notice when I do it. I’ve learned to develop this “filter the bullshit” trade in a way that it might actually come across as being “the silent listener”. In the meantime I give feedback only when I think it’s entertaining enough for either myself or the other. Yes, I said entertaining. And that doesn’t have to mean it’s funny for both parties. Or whatever. Just for me, tee-hee.

What am I getting at?

Well. Ever sat throughout an entire conversation of let’s say…. 4 hours straight. And you allow the other person to talk and talk and talk and talk. (I actually do that sometimes). And the person goes on and on and on and on and on about NOTHING. NOTHING AT ALL. And in the meantime I just sit there without barely saying anything and I all do is nod and I smile, sometimes pout, sometimes frown. I end up wandering off in my thoughts, though.

To not come across as a complete mute, I do give feedback in the form that I repeat the funny, the weird or sad words they say to end their sentence. I also try throw a few “really? how interesting, how sad/nice, or just simple “ahah” and “yeah…” in there. I might even give ‘m more than a 4 word sentence back. When I’m not imagining what they say literally, in the weirdest ways sometimes.. (old people….) or from a different point of view. Seriously, it’s hysterical.

What’s funny is that sometimes the other person notices you aren’t really listening but don’t dare to say anything about it and they will repeat themselves over and over and over in different angles anyway. Sometimes they stop for a while, frowning. That’s when I change the subject. Or do something else for a few seconds.

Note to self: Remind me to not get too high on before logging onto this log. It makes me ramble out bullshit even more than usual…  Feel free to filter this shit out.