Gossip and Rumors

One day, the great philosopher Socrates came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"


Socrates replied, "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a triple filter test to filter what you're going to say."


The first filter is TRUTH. "Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?" The man replied, "No, actually I just heard about it."


The second filter is GOODNESS. "Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?" The man replied, "No, on the contrary..."


Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something bad about him, even though you are not certain it's true?"


The third filter is USEFULNESS. Socrates asked, "Is what you are about to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?" The man replied, "No, not really."


Socrates concluded, "If what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor useful, why tell it to me at all?" The man was embarassed, ashamed and felt defeated.


...... Keep this profound wisdom in mind the next time you either hear or are about to repeat gossip or a rumor ......

---HE WHO GOSSIPS TO YOU WILL GOSSIP OF YOU---