How to Handle a Rumor: The Test of Three

[Accessing]

Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you either hear or are about to repeat a rumor.

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?"

Socrates "Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."

"Three?"

"That's right, Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test 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."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's True or not."

"Now let's try the second test, the test 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 though, because there is a third test - 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 was the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

[LITTLE LEVEL]

Really good process to go through when potentially spreading a rumor. Rumors can be quite harmful to people by ruining their lives in a variety of ways. I have heard stories of rumors that were so bad the person had to move out of the town just so they could be hired. 

[Accessing]

On 2/8/2024 at 1:49 AM, LITTLE LEVEL said:

Really good process to go through when potentially spreading a rumor. Rumors can be quite harmful to people by ruining their lives in a variety of ways. I have heard stories of rumors that were so bad the person had to move out of the town just so they could be hired. 

Yes this has held up in time and been a tried and true process of elimination we exercise especially with gaming communities. 

[ADM S Osman]

Stands the test of time!