Filter what deserves your attention, choose content that really deserves your trust

Can I give you a tip? Filter what deserves your attention, choose content that really deserves your trust.

For example, recently a health professional (beware, many may already be aligned with disease industry interests) wrote in a post: “Why do health professionals X all disapprove of procedure Y?”

1 - This post seems sensationalist, doesn't it? An impactful headline to attract your attention, followed by content that may be useless or even harmful.

2 - Does the author of the post know all the “X health professionals” in the world to state with such certainty that they all “disapprove of Y procedure”? Or is he an extremely well-traveled person, more popular than well-known figures, or does he simply tend to exaggerate? Not to mention the many “health professionals X” who use “procedure Y”, but whom he may be unaware of, despite appearing to be “well-traveled”.

3 - Everyone has the right to an opinion. On everything. What is not advisable is to have an opinion that is unsubstantiated or to offend anyone who thinks differently, just to appear to be the owner of the truth. Always remember that there are various forms of justice to curb abuses, both divine and legal.

In a simple analogy, with no intention of offending: Here's the tip - in a circus, what would a clown be without an audience or a stage? So don't give attention or publicity to anyone who doesn't offer really useful or positive content - the loser could be you!

Before you post anything, consider Socrates' 3 Filters of Wisdom:

Socrates, the Ancient Greek philosopher (469 - 399 BC), is the protagonist of an interesting story. Once, an excited disciple came to him saying: “Do you know what I just heard about one of our colleagues?”

”Wait a minute”, Socrates replied. “Before you tell me, I'd like to do a little test with you, which I call the triple filter test. Let's filter what you're about to tell me. The first filter is Truth. Are you absolutely sure that what you're about to tell me is true?”

“No”, the disciple said, “I've certainly only heard other people talk about it and ......”

“Very good” Socrates said. “So you don't really know if it's true or not. Let's test the second filter. Is what you're about to tell me about my student any good?”

“No, on the contrary...”

“So”, Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about your colleague, even if you're not sure it's true”

The disciple stammered, looking quite embarrassed..... Socrates continued.

“You should finish the test because there is still the third filter - the usefulness filter. What do you want to tell me about it, is it useful to me?”

“No, certainly not..........”.

“Well” Socrates concluded, “if what you want to tell me isn't true, isn't good, isn't any use to me, why do you want to tell me?”

Do good and good will come back to you. It's as simple as that.