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...but with all the various "conjecture" threads that frequent RTF, it's my view that we need some help in the wisdom department. While the UIM, or Toscanini have their moments...why not go first class and call on Socrates? Wonder if we could apply his "Test of Three" to some of our threads? :wink:
UB
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?"
"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."
"Test of 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 is the reason Socrates
was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem. It also
explains why he never found out that Plato was sleeping with his wife.
UB
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?"
"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."
"Test of 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 is the reason Socrates
was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem. It also
explains why he never found out that Plato was sleeping with his wife.
Cajun-American regards 
