17 October 2011

Testing for Gossip…Triple filter!


         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?”…
A true,good & useful touring destination- Goa
        I do personally, like this concept approach as far as possible. Do we use such filters subconsciously or consciously quite often? I think it’s helpful…in a way to maintain peace & tranquility and use at least one filter out of the mentioned three:)… May or may not be useful, depends on attitude!

5 comments:

umashankar said...

And that is why still miss Socrates. However, a tiny bit of our conscience is made of the stuff that great men like him had in abundance. The trick is to wake it up from deep slumber, or coma, whatever is the case.

Atanu Chatterjee said...

Thank you umashankar,

You adds value to the post with appropriate conclusion..
Actually, the statement is proven truth. My best wishes.

Saru Singhal said...

I think I'll use it in my life, thanks for teaching us. I think I will improve as a person if I will use it!!!

Ashish Joshi said...

I completely agree ... reducing unnecessary clutters will sure make life simple ... thnx!

Atanu Chatterjee said...

@ Saru Singhal,
I think! you will & should Think what think influence you to think, and prioritize ur thinking, offering think to become d drive of accountability..
Hope,you think more & ensure justice to ur gifted access & outstanding poetic quality. Good luck.

@ Ashish Joshi,
Thank you Dear!
Yes we can't diapprove, but too difficult to maintain..:)
Sometimes we should also agree to disagreement!