The Filtered Life: Why You Should Stop Being So “Open-Minded”

In the newsroom, the most powerful person isn’t the reporter who writes the most words; it’s the Gatekeeper. It’s the editor who decides what makes the front page and what gets thrown in the bin. Without a gatekeeper, a newspaper is just a pile of random rumors.

We have been taught that “open-mindedness” is a total virtue—that we should try everything, watch everything, and listen to everyone. But in an age of infinite content, an open mind without a filter is just a trash can. If you want to develop a unique “voice” or a meaningful life, you have to start saying “no” to the mediocre.

1. The “Dietary” Law of Culture
You are what you consume. If you spend four hours a day scrolling through rage-bait headlines and “fast-fashion” trends, your thoughts will become fragmented and shallow.

In the editing world, we call this “pollution.” If you read too much bad prose, you start to write it. The same applies to your spirit. You have to treat your attention like a high-end gallery. If a piece of content isn’t “museum quality,” why are you letting it hang in your head?

2. High-Fidelity vs. High-Frequency
We are addicted to the “New.” We want the latest episode, the latest gadget, the latest controversy. But the “New” is rarely the “Best.”

Try the Editor’s Ratio: Spend 20% of your time on current events and 80% on things that have stood the test of time.

Don’t watch a new Netflix series just because it’s trending; watch a film that won an Oscar in 1974.

Don’t read the latest “business hack” book; read a classic philosopher.

Don’t buy the “it-bag” of the season; buy a coat that your grandchildren could wear.

3. The Courage to be “Elitist” (About Yourself)
“Elitism” is a dirty word, but “Discernment” is a skill. You don’t have to like what everyone else likes. In fact, if you like everything, you actually like nothing.

Having “Taste” means having the courage to say, “This is popular, but it is not good.” It means being willing to be the only person in the room who didn’t watch the viral video because you were busy reading a 600-page biography of a dead explorer. Your “Taste” is the only thing that separates you from the algorithm.