I have twenty-one filters that I deploy in pretty much all interactions with people socially, and professionally. I will only list them without elaborating on any because I think they are self-evident however, if you need me to explain one or more, let me know and I might oblige. Here they are:
- I dislike you but, I will keep my feelings to myself
- I think nothing of you but, I will tolerate you for as long as I absolutely have to
- I do not want to socialise with you but, I must
- You are boring me to death but, I will try and show some false interest in you
- You are drowning me with hackneyed clichés but, I will keep my mouth shut
- You told me this joke before, it is unfunny but, I will keep this fact to myself
- This meeting is too long, pointless, and boring but, I will stay for commercial reasons
- I am looking disinterested but, I am really interested and it’s up to you to find out
- I really like you but, it is inappropriate to tell you so
- I love you but, it is absolutely out of the question to say so
- You are truly repulsive but, it is more damaging to all concerned to say so than not
- You are a stranger who is invading my private solace but, I will keep polite
- I would rather not come to your party / wedding / dinner but, I guess I must
- I crave your approval, affection, admiration but, I would not ask for it
- I am scared, nervous and unsure of what I must do next but, I will not show it
- I hate this food / drink you made but, I don’t want to hurt your feelings
- I am not coming back at you because what I have to say is too hurtful
- You don’t deserve the dizzy heights you have attained but, I will grudgingly accept it
- I gave you that idea and now you own it but, you’re welcome to it, creep!
- You are useless at your job, will not amount to much but, I will not crush your hopes
- You think you’re the smartest guy in the room, you’re not that in a telephone box!
