On Magnetic Island most of us think twice before spreading a rumour. Here is a short story that explains the three filters of Socrates –
The Ultimate Gossip Test. Here it goes...
Everything the gossip monger told me is true!
Because some other gossip monger told me it was.
(DCH2009)
~O~
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"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."
"Three?"
"That's right, Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely
sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's True or not."
"Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued. "You may still pass though, because there is a third test - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be Useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed. This was the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.
~oOo~
In our world so full of cynicism and skepticism, will repeating this story be kind? Would it be better left unsaid? Would you really be better off repeating this information?
When you analyze it this way, your chances of being gossiper are dramatically reduced.
Post written by Jemma de Halhorst
