Gossip

They reckon that someone who will talk to you about anther will normally talk to another about you.  I think Will Rogers summed it up when he said, “the only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them.”
I think I hear Ellen DeGeneres when she says “People love gossip. It's the biggest thing that keeps the entertainment industry going.”  But I do again like what Will Rogers said, “Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”
What I find amazing although I probably should not, is that whatever is said about me is taken as the way it is.  So often it seems a person fails to find out what is the truth of a matter and in the absence of anything to the contrary it is believed.  It seems that if some have nothing, they will make something up anyway.  Add to this the story is told from the way another sees the world.  It can be a real pandora’s box.
Some will not repeat something.  Others cannot wait to repeat something.  No sooner are they away from the source, then they are saying to another “did you hear.”  Why let facts get in the way of a good story.
I have seen a bit of that in the news lately.  I am surprised when I hear of the mob doing something terrible based only on a rumour.  Once something is done it is too late to change it.  This has not been a one-off, nor has it been a regular occurrence, but it has happened a bit.  Always with terrible consequences.
Social Media I reckon is good for gossip and spreading untrue rumours.  It seems to me Charles Spurgeon was right when he said a lie can travel half-way around the world before the truth has put its shoes on.
I don’t need pulling down.  There is enough to do that.  It seems to me it is the same for everyone.  What I need to hear is how wonderful I am.  Actually, I know that already. 😊
It seems I can feel good or I can feel bad.  For some, what others say is their identity.  They are very much “woe is me” if what is being said about them is negative.  It does not seem to matter if it is true or not.  That is not what their life is built on.  It is built on the perception of others.  The consequences can be catastrophic.
What is said can be malicious.  Fact never comes into the equation.  Only hurt.  The desire is to destroy.  A number have seen to work of trolls online.  I have, and it made me sick.  The one aim of what is said seems to be to destroy another.
I guess the way I view this has to do with what I hold to.  I love the thought of doing to others as I want done to me.  I know I like to feel good about myself.  My identity is built on more than the perception of other people. I like to be built up.  I like it acknowledged that although I make mistakes like everyone, I am giving it a red-hot go.
I like it like that, and I imagine others do to.  I will always try to be part of the answer rather than part of the problem.