3 Questions

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One day there is a man who hurriedly ran to Socrates. So, with gasping he said that he had important information to be conveyed to him.

Socrates whom well known of his wise said, "Brother, before you tell the information, I have three questions for you. First, do you think the news you want to tell is the TRUTH or not? "The man replied," How could I know, it’s a gossip, I do not know if it’s true or not!

Then Socrates asked another question, “Is the information that you will tell, is it good or bad?”. The man replied, “Not really because it speak about other’s badness”.

Last, Socrates asked him, “Well this is my third question, Will you tell the USEFUL?" The man replied, "I think not useful anyway!" "Then do you think you still want to tell that  to me?" Finally, the man cancel his intention to tell Socrates.

Sometimes you should also have to filter the information that delivered to you. In story above, Socrates taught three ways to test the information that come to you. So there are four important test that you can do.

First test is the background source (who told it, are they credible and trustworthy?). Second is test contains (is it sense/rational or not? Is it opposite with your believes or your principle?). Third is benefit test (will it be useful, beneficial or will it hep you or not). Las is the test result (if it is done, what will happen).