GOSSIP ?

Next time someone starts to spread gossip, think of this:     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 m! oment 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.       It also explains why he never found out that Plato (his student) was   having an affair with his wife.       Moral: It's good to gossip sometimes!!! ... :-)