![\"gossip.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp.patheos.com.S3.amazonaws.com\/blogs\/sites\/356\/gossip.jpg\")
<\/a>I have observed that news mongering, spreading rumours, talking about people behind their back, gossiping about everyone around is a favourite time pass for many people. Sometimes, unknowingly we get into this web. This is an unproductive activity, which we should avoid at all costs. Rather, we should develop straight forwardness in our character, and try to say things as we feel about it or think about it. That doesnot mean one should be rude, or blunt, but still you can try to convey your honest thoughts. <\/p>\nI heard this saying a few years back, and after that tried not to be a small minded person by avoiding talking about people generally, especially in one\u2019s absence. I cannot say one can really follow it all the time, but one can try. Here goes the saying:<\/p>\n
Great Minds Discuss Ideas;
\nAverage Minds Discuss Events;
\nSmall Mind Discuss People<\/p>\n
I want to share this short story published in, The Times of India, with my readers to reflect upon it. People enjoy talking about others, like to churn more and more stories without knowing the facts about a person. <\/p>\n
GRAPEVINE<\/p>\n
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said,
\n\u201cDo you know what I just heard about your friend?\u201d
\n\u201cHold on a minute,\u201d Socrates replied.
\n\u201cBefore telling me anything I\u2019d like you to pass a little test.
\nIts called the Triple filter Test.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTriple filter?\u201d
\n\u201cthat\u2019s right,\u201d Socrates continued.
\n\u201cBefore you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea
\nto take a moment and filter what you\u2019re going to say.
\nThat\u2019s why I call it the triple filter test. <\/p>\n
The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that
\nwhat you are about to tell me is true?\u201d
\n\u201cNo,\u201d the man said, \u201cActually I just heard about it and\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cAlright,\u201d said Socrates. \u201cSo you don\u2019t relly know if its true or not. <\/p>\n
Now let\u2019s try the second filter, the filter of goodness.
\nIs what you are going to tell me about my frined, something good?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, on the contrary\u2026..\u201d
\n\u201cSo\u201d, Socrates continued, \u201cYou want to tell me something bad
\nabout him, but you\u2019re not certain if its true. <\/p>\n
You may still pass the test though,
\nbecause there\u2019s one filter left: the filter of usefulness.
\nIs what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, not really\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d concluded Socrates, \u201cif what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?\u201d<\/p>\n
(This little article was published in The Speaking Tree, a spiritual magazine of Times of India, on 08 Aug 2010. I really wanted it on my blog. I couldnot find it on e-paper, but I am reproducing it.)<\/p>\n
(Image Credit: wdavidphillips.com)<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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