The Gossip Thread
 

What is the definition of Gossip? Why is it wrong?

The malicious spreading of information about an individual or group.

Not all gossip is untrue.

:girlpopcorn:girlpopcorn:girlpopcorn:girlpopcorn :girlpopcorn:girlpopcorn:girlpopcorn:girlpopcorn

Right. Like if I say... REVDWW is fat and ugly - now that may be true - but to spread it would still be gossip.:couch:bolt

Hart, so unlike you....


:D

ah so if it is true it's ok to do....

Hey...you left out two of my better traits....brutish and lazy......:killinme:killinme

So the malice part is with the intent on hurting a specific individual?

No.

Sometimes hurt is the intent, other times it might just be to "put them in their place". Maybe the gossip is just not thinking clearly when spreading "the dirt".

Hey did you hear Prax is a_________________ ?

So as long as it's true, we can talk about people?

There is a time to tell the whole church, but that's after a one on one meeting and then if that doesn't work meeting with two or three. Gossip doesn't seem to have the best interest of the subject in mind.

Have you read many of the replies on this thread? :lol

and he -_-_-_-_-_-_-_- over at ....................'s house?:sshhh



ARPH :doggyrun

Gossip can be so destructive, especially when the one telling the story doesnt know all of the facts or is biased in making sure people only believe their side of the story.

I wholeheartedly agree!:highfive

Main Entry: 1gos·sip
Pronunciation: 'gä-s&p
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English gossib, from Old English godsibb, from god god + sibb kinsman, from sibb related -- more at SIB
1 a dialect British : GODPARENT b : COMPANION, CRONY c : a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others
2 a : rumor or report of an intimate nature b : a chatty talk c : the subject matter of gossip



According to this definition from Websters ddon't we all gossip?

The church gossip and self-appointed arbiter of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several church members were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being drunk after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and simply walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny; he said nothing.

Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of her house...... and left it there all night!

Prax, can I have one of those donuts please???

Oh, sorry, This is about gossip isn't it?

Can I have one of those dounts while I read the latest gossip?? (Is that better?)

NI

Webster's defines gossip as "idle talk or rumors".

So if I say "I read in the news that George Bush might have known there was no truth to the yellow cake uranium story in Africa" is that gossip?

What if no names are mentioned, like the $400 lobster story but we just discuss the ethics involved?

Or what if the intent is to warn others of a dubious character claiming to be a brother when they are really a wolf?

Gossip is anything said that is not your business to say...whether true or not true.

It's one thing to say, "How ethical would it be for a minister/person to spend 400 dollars for a lobster dinner?"..........or "What do you think about gambling in Las Vegas?"

And, then it's an entirely different thing to say, "NEWSFLASH - a member of this forum was caught red-handed spending 400 dollars on lobster, and gambling in Vegas - what do you think?"

The Bible clearly tells us that if a brother be overtaken in a fault to restore him in a spirit of meekness, considering ourselves lest we also be tempted.

The Bible clearly states that we will be judged by every idle word that proceeds from our mouths, and gossip is defined as "idle words".

I could go on and on, but Biblically, unless the person can be helped by public exposure of their transgression, or as you say, Prax, others need to be warned about this person because of their intentions, I see no other reason to spread rumors about people, or to broadcast their transgressions, even if they be true.

I've been on the receiving end of this type of "gossip", and so I'm probably a bit more sensitive to it than others may be.

To me, gossip is something I say about someone else in an attempt to injure the person I'm talking about.

For instance, I have a good friend that I can confide in and share things with that go no further, so I'm comfortable in telling her that 'Vanessa is in a situation she's having difficulty with, and really needs prayer in her life' and not worry about details.

However, I wouldn't say 'Vanessa is living with this guy and just found out she's pregnant, blah blah blah' unless that info is pertinent and Vanessa ok's me to tell her that info.

Anyway, that's not Webster's, but HO's dictionary works just as well.