Mia
by MIA FREEDMAN
There are people in the world who do not know who Katie Holmes is. For them, it’s been a long and perplexing week as they’ve grappled to join in conversations with loved ones and co-workers. Tomkat? What?
ABC broadcaster Richard Glover confessed on radio to not having a clue who Katie Holmes was before she filed for divorce from Tom Cruise and shot to the top of the news charts with a bullet this week. “If you don’t know something, it can be a surprise to find out that everyone else does,” he noted. “And similarly, we all assume the things we know are common knowledge.”
This is too true. I have always believed in The Filter Principal. We all have to choose some broad categories of information to filter out of our heads. Because there’s so much of it coming at us and space is limited.
What do you filter out? It may be politics. Information about climate change. Sport. Names of films. For example. I choose to filter out sport and information about wine (although not actual wine which is better drunk than filtered). Also anything related to The Real Housewives (of anywhere). And yet I can recite the names and birthplaces of all six of Angelina and Brad Pitt’s children. Go figure.
What topics do you filter out? What topics can you NOT BELIEVE that other people filter out?
Comments
114 Comments so far
Starsigns and horoscopes. Actually its more than filtering – I actively change the radio station.
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As a journalist I recently asked two primary school friends, “What do you both think of the Gina Rinehart saga?”
One replied: “What’s that?”
The other said, “Weren’t people saying on Facebook she caused the Melbourne earthquake?”
I was left baffled (and amused). But it just proves, regardless of how big a story is, some people STILL do filter it out.
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I filter out wine. Couldn’t tell you the difference between a sav blanc and a cab sav if you paid me…(is that even right?) It bores me to tears…it’s a drink people!
And politics….BORING!!!
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the book you’re reading or the movie you saw last night.
If I was interested I would read it or see it myself.
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Maybe I’m going to get lynched for this, but I can’t believe that people filter out the correct places to put apostrophes. Then again, I’ve managed to filter out everything to do with any sort of Apple / Mac application. Any information regarding iPods, iPhones, Mac computers etc. resides in some sort of black hole in my brain, I’ve never used one of them without getting myself into a frenzy of self-directed swearing at some point.
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Movies. I never know what is playing, what won an Oscar, what is a must see. What is even playing! No wonder i always manage to choose complete shit when i got to the video shop.
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I wish I had a filter…..I take in a bit about just about everything. it’s weird because I’m not that interested in a lot of stuff that I know a lot about…the internet is a time waster that way
I need to find my filter and stop wasting time ! In conversation with people about different topics i always seem to know a litlle bit about a lot of different things including sport and celebrity gossip which i really do have zero interest in. It always amazes me when people have no clue about who someone is 
I read someone elses quote earlier “Basically, I enjoy being a “know-all” and I always want to know more.” and I think that’s me too
Example- today I was reading the news and ended up learning lots about what it’s like to work at Apple (don’t use a mac), Hotmail hacking (I don’t ever use hotmail), Wifi in Korea ? legal penalties for centrelink fraud ? soup recipes (I rarely cook soup) and Brett Lee quitting just to name a few and much other totally unneccessry information. Why!! I’m woking on developing my filter
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Your dreams. Please don’t tell me details of last nights dream
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Details of your upcoming wedding…..seriously, I get you’re excited but I don’t need to discuss the details of your stationary, gift registry and seating charts in explicit detail.
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Directions. People start giving me directions & I nod & in my head I’m thinking ” remember remember remember ” but it all just falls out…
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I zone out when my husband, his dad, and his brothers explain how something works.
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Hahaha that’s me. I think the part of my brain responsible for mechanics is unusually small.
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@Charlotte Once they start I think, “I don’t care to take part in your informaton parade. I don’t care that this one might know more about the topic than the other. Boooring, time to zone out”
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My male friend didn’t know who Cadel Evans was when I was talking about him the other day. I understand not knowing before last year but now?!!?!? He ALSO had never heard of the Tour De France. Whaaa? I remember my friend in highschool had never heard of the Australian newspaper. Since we read it everyday in my house I was shocked.
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We recently told a very good friend of ours that our middle son’s teddy bear is called “Roger” you know, after Roger Federer…
Friend answered “WHO?”
Stated he doesn’t watch the news, is only interested in AFL and his hobbies. I still can’t believe that you wouldnt’ have even heard of him.
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I filter out nearly everything BUT what I actually need to get through each day, i.e. what is actually impacting on family and friends, and what I need to know to do my job to the best of my ability.
My husband is constantly connected to his iPhone or computer, constantly commenting on science and space discoveries, the latest news and sport results etc. Just don’t ask him who the kids teachers are!
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Don’t get me wrong….I really don’t give a toss about sport. However if it is a choice of sport or the Kardashians, celebrity gossip, gossip about reality shows, why Fred Nerk’s opinion should be less valued than yours, why you hate particular radio announcers and journalists for having a different opinion to yours, who is wearing what, who is shagging who etc, et bloody cetera….then give me sport !
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Alan Jones
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Bieber
One Direction
All the singing / dancing / renovation / cooking TV shows
Soccer … its not bloody football!
Today Tonight / 60 Minutes / A Current Affiar
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I think you meant the filter PRINCIPLE
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I tune out when people correct my grammar
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Fair enough – but do you hold yourself out to be a professional writer?
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Sport including the Olympics
The Kardashians
Lindsay Lohan
The Voice/X factor
Offspring
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Not offspring….
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Offspring
AFL
organic anything
the talents and amazingness of other peoples kids
yawn….
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Religion
Breastfeeding
Cricket and Football (of any kind)
Currencies
Underbelly TV shows
Lalaloopsy people/characters/toys – whatever they are. My girls try and tell me about them but instantly my eyes turn glassy.
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Football …sat next to Benji Marshall at the local pub – NO IDEA who he was! My friend nearly died when she came back with our drinks!!
Btw hair’s looking good Mia.
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Sport (despite being an Australian and the daughter of a PE teacher) and cars!
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All reality tv.
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I think I see tights as pants in that photo!!
(they look good too)
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Totally unrelated but you look so young in that Mia:)
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The names of my ex-boyfriends new partners.
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Justin Bieber.
He unfortunately arrives in Sydney next week.
And ALL of the Kardashians & Lindsay Lohan
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The Olympics. Or at least all the stories in the lead up. Just let me know when it starts.
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Anyone who talks to me before 8am.
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Cricket, golf,rugby, any car sport. With the exception of sprintcar racing, but I’m not sure if I actually enjoy it or have talked myself into liking it due to family obligation to attend (family member is a racer)
Any superhero related movie.
Any topic surronding the apparently terrible health of vegos/vegans.
And in the last few months, any news coverage of the fight for marriage equality. I fully and passionately support it, but lately it just hurts my heart too much to hear the objections.
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With the exception of tennis (which I love), I filter out most sport. I especially have no interest in AFL, rugby league, rugby union or cricket. Whenever the conversation turns to any of these sports I completely tune out. Snore……..
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Anything to do with One Direction.
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And Kim Kardashian!
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Asylum seekers, Carbon Tax & climate change. Over the lot!
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Julie, if they stop writing about those subjects then I know of at least one blog site that will close down overnight.
Actually….make that two !
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Oh it must be so hard for you in your cushy life Julie! Just cruising in your 5 star lifestyle not having to worry about your family in detention or natural disasters from climate change. Urgh
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Rather presumptuous Ellie. You know nothing about MY life! This blog site simply asked what we were filtering….I could have elaborated by saying that I wouldn’t mind the media covering these issues if our politicians would actually make policy that effectively addressed the issues at hand….. but I didn’t!! Ignorant people Aaaaaaargggg
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Lol
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Media hype about self-regulating advertising and Photoshop bans etc. Oh here we go again – same cr@p as it was last month… and the month before. Nothing changes (except for the time Mia stopped the Dolly comp – YAY!)
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I’m surprised at the number of people saying they filter out politics. That stuff matters! I get a bit twitchy if I don’t have time to read the paper in the morning, I want to know what’s going on.
I try to filter out anything to do with sport, reality TV, fashion, bitchy gossip, other peoples house renovations (I think I hate hearing about this more than all the others put together).
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Definitely cars and sport my care factor is Jess than zero…
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Filter: sport, politics, rude mum at kid’s school, kids fighting, technical conversations about cooking..
Love: gossip, spirituality talks, in depth conversations, mental health issues/discussions ppl and celeb news..
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Cars – I can only describe them by colour, apparently not much help.
And Sports, although I can FAKE sports with my husband, a couple of “aha’s, yeah that was good, I agree the ref’s blind” and I can usually get by, lol!
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As soon as someone starts talking about leasing a car instead of buying…zzzzzzzzzzzz
And start talking about ancient history stuff and I”m out of here – haven’t a clue about Roman/Greek/Calathumpian empires –> zzzzzzzzzzzz again
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Hahaha – that’s so funny. I’m an ancient history teacher and love to talk about Augustus and the Julio-Claudians – but only on Trip Advisor forums so I don’t bore anyone to death
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OTHER PEOPLE’S DREAMS!!!!
lol
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Taxation.
I was at my accountants today and she was showing me how to do a motor vehicle log book – while I nodded and tried to concentraaaaaaa….zzzzzzzzz
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That is same for me! I have app with my accountant nxt week & I know he’ll get mad bc I was meant to do a logbook from last yr but forgot it the second I left his office. Zzzzzzzxxx
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Golf
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Trying to find the perfect denim jacket, what brand are you wearing mia??
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Make one, or have one made. StyleArc patterns do a great one. Plus they are an Australian pattern company.
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Great post Mia!
I love reading the comments on posts like this!
Now, here’s my answer;
LARA BINGLE.
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Me too I love reading comments but noooooo!
love the bingle when she is in a bungle for being such a bongle!
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YES.
But unfortunately I find I have to ACTIVELY filter her. She is everywhere! Waaaaay too many ads for her show. The point of which is…. what?
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Me too! I refuse to watch her show.
I think (irrationally) that if I don’t feed the ‘beast’ then maybe it will fade away and die. Pleeeeeeease.
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That’s the way I feel about Kyle Sandilands! My boycott doesn’t seem to make a difference but I stand by it!
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Sport – for example, I’d never heard of Jim Stynes, until his death was in the news for weeks!
Also, cars – if someone asks me to identify what type of car someone has, I can name the colour, and maybe if it’s a sedan or not.
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Anything sport-related……and, a propos of nothing, that is a really nice picture of Mia, even though it looks like she’s thinking “Hurry up and take the god-damn photo!”
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Australian talent shows – horrid!!!
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Yep, sports and car stuff. Just don’t care.
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Yes but Mia can you recite the latitude and longtidue of their births (ie her arm tatt, done I think in roman numerals but I’m happy to be corrected)????
Until then I won’t worry about you ………
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I filter out most commercials. I often record & watch shows later so it’s easy to do.
If not watching a pre-recorded show, I usually turn over to another station during a commercial break. Don’t need to see them over & over again with their shouty messages.
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