Fluff filters, and why you want to read with them turned on

You can simply read a page,

... or you can READ a page with some intelligence.

One of the important skills I teach in my search classes is Reading through the fluff. Or, in a catchier turn of phrase, reading with a Fluff Filter.

That is, reading to get to the heart of the content whileignoring all of the persuasive text that’s added to get you to believe what they’re writing is true, wonderful, or desirable.

Example: While searching for a particular online lesson, I found this description of a company that's looking for a group to partner with them. They wrote:

…they are on a mission to design a new revolutionary program, seeking out external partners to join them. Today we'll learn about the comprehensive process they took to find, evaluate and select a top tier creatively innovative third party Core Design Partner.

That’s fine, but let’s cut this down to the real core content by removing the fluff.

Here's that paragraph with strike0uts for things that are merely descriptive or don't contribute anything:

…they are ~~on a mission to design a new revolutionary program,~~ seeking ~~out external~~partners ~~to join them~~. Today we'll learn ~~about the comprehensive process~~ they ~~took to find,~~ evaluate ~~and select a top tier creatively innovative third party Core Design~~ Partner.

That is, as I read this my brain Fluff Filters this prose into the following:

…they are seeking partners. Today we learn about how they will evaluate that partner.

It’s shorter and simpler to understand. I don't really need to know about their mission (or that it's revolutionary... of course it is). I don't really need to hear about their "comprehensive process" to find a "creatively innovative third party Core Design" partner.

Here's my Fluff Filter:

a. trim the descriptive text down to what you really need to know,

b. take out anything that you know to be true already,

c. remove all of the puffy adjectives that pump up the description and make it sound great

Let’s try this with something you might come across--a description of a new online game.

With a cute and chaotic cartoon art style and hordes of bizarre enemies, things can get seriously crazy. The depth of your choice in how to defend is unsurpassed with dozens of towers, each with their own upgrade trees to climb.

As I read this with my Fluff Filters on, I read:

Things get crazy. You defend by building towers.

See where I’m going with this? Cut to the chase and read only the parts that carry the core information.

Another example: If you read the following (made-up!) menu description with your Fluff Filter on, you’ll emerge with the key concept:

The Grand Armadillo Soufflé is an angelic symphony of the most tender, center cut, marinated, free-range armadillo steaks imaginable. Sautéed with Sonoma Valley garlic and drenched in 17-year-old balsamic vinegar from Anderson Valley grapes grown on century old, organically raised vines.

That key concept? It's: