Gossip

[_Ren]

'Course I may just be like Wade when I say, "That may just be me."

It's certainly got a ring to it :)

[_Moniker]

'Course I may just be like Wade when I say, "That may just be me."

It's certainly got a ring to it :)

And I'm 100% positive there are many people on this website and on MAD (you included) that am glad I keep secrets....

So I suppose it's a good thing, eh?

:)

[_Ren]

And I'm 100% positive there are many people on this website and on MAD (you included) that am glad I keep secrets....

So I suppose it's a good thing, eh?

:)

For sure!
*Remembers that jokes aren't always appropriate...!*

[_harmony]

And I'm 100% positive there are many people on this website and on MAD (you included) that am glad I keep secrets....

So I suppose it's a good thing, eh?

:)

For sure!
*Remembers that jokes aren't always appropriate...!*

The best kept secrets are those that are not shared, ever.

[_Ren]

The best kept secrets are those that are not shared, ever.

*shrug* Possibly.

Could also make life fairly boring.
...and a tad lonely perhaps...

[_harmony]

The best kept secrets are those that are not shared, ever.

*shrug* Possibly.

Could also make life fairly boring.
...and a tad lonely perhaps...

Moral of the story is, if you don't want your secrets shared with people you don't want them shared with, don't share them at all.

[_Ren]

Moral of the story is, if you don't want your secrets shared with people you don't want them shared with, don't share them at all

Agreed :)

[_Moniker]

The best kept secrets are those that are not shared, ever.

*shrug* Possibly.

Could also make life fairly boring.
...and a tad lonely perhaps...

Moral of the story is, if you don't want your secrets shared with people you don't want them shared with, don't share them at all.

So true! Unfortunately someone else may share your story with others. Then what do you do? Anyway. Secrets between 2 people best be kept between them.

Anyway, Ren, you're right -- it is lonely. Lesson learned -- trust only those that are trustworthy.

[_wenglund]

Well, I've always understood the term 'gossip' to emphasise discussing details about others that would be generally acknowledged as being 'personal' information. I.e. information that it is known the person (or group) involved don't / haven't announced publicly - and perhaps mentioned in confidence to one other person, or a small select group of people.

Discussing things about a person or group that the person or group themselves have made public wouldn't come across as 'gossip' to me. At least, that's not the term that would come to my mind to describe it. Even if the discussion in question was negative, and I thought badly of it - still - 'gossip' wouldn't be the first word to mind.

'Smearing' - sure.
'Attacking' - sure.

...but 'gossip'?

Point well taken...which is why I backed off somewhat in my earlier post. To me, it isn't so much important whether certain labels like "gossip" fit certain types of communications or not, but whether the communications service a constructive or destructive purpose of not.

During my short stint in politics (I helped a candidate run for the US Senate in Vermont back in the early 1980's) I was made privy to disfavorable and often false rumors that were being spread about my candidate and, in part, ended up costing him the election. I considered the rumors to be "gossip", but I was later informed that the preferred term was "whisper campaigns", and was classified as "dirty tricks" (a term made famous following the last Nixon campaign). I am fine with it being called whatever, just as long as people understand that such communications are utimately deletarious to all parties concerned.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[_personage]

Tori wrote
;)[/quote]
I remember something we use to teach in YW, a way to determine if what you are saying is actually gossip. Something like, "If it is true, if it is nice, and if it is necessary". (((scratching head))).

Dontchya think if you have to stop and think about something before you say it, (if it's true/ necessary) maybe you should'New Testament say it at all? I never did understand that lesson. I like to remember something my mother always told me, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.[/quote]


That is basically the Socrates "triple filter test" with different terminology. I have always thought it was a brilliant lesson taught by a very wise man.