Thought I'd go more philosophical with my latest entry.
Next time someone starts to spread gossip, think of Socrates' Triple Filter Test!!
> In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his
> wisdom.
> One day the great philosopher 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?'
> 'Wait a moment,' Socrates replied. 'Before you tell me 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
> student let's take a moment 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?'
> '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 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 the test though, because
> there is a third filter - 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 is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such
> high esteem.
> -
And it's also the reason why Socrates never found out that Plato was
> banging his wife. 
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