Testing For Gossip

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

“Hold on a minute”, Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”

“Triple filter?”

“That’s right”, Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter 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 and …”

“All right”, said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”

“No, on the contrary.”

“So”, Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: The filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend 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?”

 

People who love to gossip have poor self esteem and feel that by running others down, they by comparison aren't really so bad at all. But gossiping will never wash away the stain on their hearts.
Just remember that as soon as your back is turned, the gossiper will be talking about you. I never trust those that like to gossip.
Now if however someone is merely reporting facts that I ought to know, that is a different story. One needs to comprehend the difference. There are times when receiving a report about an incompetent, has saved me money...and I do like saving money.

 

While browsing the Internet here is what I got:
Great minds discuss ideas;
average minds discuss events;
small minds discuss people.

----Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Denesly.. Great quote on gossip.. i am saving it on my wallpaper

 

I agree with Spoiltdiva, it's hard to come by genuine and honest people these days