Can You Pass the Triple Filter Test?

When should you pass news on and when should you keep it to yourself?

A scholar in ancient Baghdad was said to be unusually wise. One day annacquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I justnheard about your friend?"

"Wait," the scholar replied. "Before you continue, let me ask anquestion. Is what you are about to tell me the truth?"

"I don't know," the man said.

"All right," said the scholar. "You don't know if it's true. Let menask another question. Is what you are about to tell me good?"

"No, it isn't!" the man replied.

"Then allow me to ask a third question. Is what you are about to tellnuseful to me?" asked the scholar.

"No, it is not useful," said the man.

Then the scholar said, "If it may not be true, if it is not good andnit is not useful, then why do you want to tell me at all?"

Does your news pass the triple filter test? Ask yourself thesenquestions before you speak: Is what I am about to say the truth? Is itngood? And is it useful? If you can answer yes to only two of thesenquestions, be careful about what you pass along. But if what you arenabout to tell passes all three filters, then it should be told!

My friend Bob Burg has a different approach. "Play the 'Reverse
Gossip' Game," he says. "See how many nice things you can say behindnsomeone's back." Sounds like a game that everyone wins.