If it is not true, good or useful - then shut up
This post is dedicated to everyone, especially those of you on Facebook and Twitter. It is a fable (just a story) featuring Socrates, the great Greek philosopher, who lived circa 400 BC. [not to be confused with Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, the great captain of the 1982 Brazilian football team]
Socrates, c. 469 BC – 399 BC
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 you talk to me about my friend, it might be 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?"
"Well, 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?"
"Umm, no, on the contrary…"
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about my friend, 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"
"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be 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?"
"Well, 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?"
"Umm, no, on the contrary…"
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about my friend, 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?"
All you all are well aware – there is plenty of crap going around on the various social media network. Photoshop and image editors rule. Selective / partial quotes are abound. I am really really amused by the number of people who share links and photos without the slightest thought whether the stuff is true or otherwise.
So, the next time, before you post or share anything, please think.
(a) Are you absolutely sure that what you are posting or sharing is the truth?
(b) Are you sure that it will do more good than bad?
(c) Are you sure it is useful?
If it fails any one of the three tests, reconsider whether you still want to post or share it.
So, the next time, before you post or share anything, please think.
(a) Are you absolutely sure that what you are posting or sharing is the truth?
(b) Are you sure that it will do more good than bad?
(c) Are you sure it is useful?
If it fails any one of the three tests, reconsider whether you still want to post or share it.
Especially if it fails the first (truth) test.
Monyet King also says
This is the other Socrates aka the Doctor. 60 caps for Brazil. Captain of the 1982 team at the World Cup in Spain. He was definitely one great midfielder.
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