What I See with Peter Fiorenza: Binge watch has me thinking if relationships would be easier without a filter

I’m watching a TV series that has got me hooked. I know that is not unusual, as we can all get drawn to such things to the point that we binge. For the uninitiated, binging is when we sit through nearly a whole series of a TV show in one or maybe two sittings. It’s a recent phenomenon that is somewhat a by-product of streaming. Today, you have the option of watching a TV series basically at your own convenience, instead of waiting for the next scheduled showing on one of the networks. Back to this little gem I’m watching, called Nobody Wants This, and I’m only halfway through but finding it refreshingly funny. Why? Primarily because it’s a simple plot involving relationships, but with a script that tickles the heart. Like so many before it, the plot is a case of boy meets girl and they fall in love, overcoming obstacles in the way. In this case, the dialogue — what they actually say to each other — is just hilarious. You know when you are talking to someone and you are thinking something but say something else — your brain tends to act like a filter. Well, in this case there is no filter. What is thought is said, if you know where I’m coming from. And this has me thinking, why don’t we do more of that? Just blurt out what we think or feel. I know the filter acts as insurance, in a way; testing the water, so to speak. But you could also argue that it might draw out the inevitable. Instead of spending a lot of time and energy working your way through a situation, you in effect cut to the chase — you know whether you’re going to have a win or a loss pretty quickly. When we are talking romantic relationships, it could be a way of cutting out all the heartache and pain that is supposed to be par for the course. And in respect to other forms of communication, getting straight to the point might be a form of good time management. Or it could possibly have a downside. It could result in a growing number of incidents of verbal abuse, distressing scenes or even lead to physical violence. Nobody wants that. Food for thought though. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sports Shed Saturday (9am to noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am to noon) on Radio MAMA