Samaira Bangatufts university, Tufts University · startups and sidequests

Gossip - Why It's Toxic for the Mind

15 Dec 2022 · 1 min

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In this monologue, the speaker introduces a personal three‑filter test designed to evaluate any information about others before deciding to listen. The first filter checks truthfulness, asking whether the claim is verified. The second assesses kindness, questioning whether the information is positive or harmful. The third evaluates utility, considering whether the knowledge is useful to the listener. If a piece of gossip fails any of these filters, the speaker chooses to ignore it. The talk then expands on why gossip, often dismissed as harmless chatter, is actually toxic: it feeds the brain with negativity, harms both the speaker and the receiver, and contributes to a toxic mental environment. The overall message encourages mindful communication and the avoidance of unverified, unkind, and unhelpful talk about others.

Chapters

I want to share with you a 3-filter test that I use before someone tells me something about others. First filter is truth. I ask them, have you checked if what you're going to tell me is definitely true? If they say, no, I just heard, I'm not certain, I say, well, then let's do the second filter, which is kindness. What you're going to tell me about the other person, is it good? Oh no, quite the opposite. So you want to tell me bad things about someone and you're not even sure if they're true? Hmm. Let's use the last filter, utility. Will it be useful for me to know what you're going to tell me about Oh no, not really. So what you're about to tell me is neither true nor good nor useful. Then well, I don't need to hear it. My friends, this is a simple 3-filter test that I use which allows me not to indulge in gossip. We might think gossip is just small harmless talk which may seem fun and enjoyable, right? But actually it feeds our brain with toxicity and it affects the speaker as much as the receiver.