Biases

I've spent a good amount of my adult life trying to grow out of biases I learned when young. Some are really obvious---being completely open to people of color, to all on the gender spectrum, to folk of all ages. Completely open to me means not limiting my expectations or willingness to interact with someone beforehand.

I do have some biases that I want to keep. Maybe I need a different word for biases? Something that sounds more intentional?

I don't have much respect for folk who put more than twice as much effort into complaining as they do into making things better. That lack of respect biases how I view them, whether I avoid interacting with them or choose to offer opportunities to other people. I've worked in groups long enough to know how much a whiner can degrade team performance, and I will live a more productive life by not being part of such teams.

I will give a second hearing, a third hearing, additional chances over and over again to folk who are working hard. It's ideal if the work leads somewhere good but it is easier to encourage a hard worker to choose good over evil than it is to encourage a lazy good person to do something for others.

I will choose to spend my leisure time with playful people, full of whimsy and enjoyment of unexpected blessings in life. That is a bias I have articulated to myself as a preventative measure lest I grow too solemn over any of the evils that pervade our world.