can someone please tell me......

[seajoy]

......what is the difference between standing up for truth, and gossiping? Apparently, I have the lines blurred. I don't even know where I belong on this forum anymore.

And I'm not trying to be a snot. I really would love an answer to my question, or I'll be walking on eggshells all the time around here.

 

[Studeclunker]

Standing up for the truth is generally what's done around here.
Gossip is a form of Character Assassination.

Sometimes though, to protect the innocent, facts need to be more... vicariously proven. For instance, we all know a great deal about what the... ELCA does and does not believe. The latter has been proven to be considerably greater than the former. Thus by their actions and words, a great deal can be proven without directly involving witnesses. There is a huge body of evidence to draw from.

Gossiping is spreading rumours and innuendo that have no basis in fact, are damaging to the subject individual or organization, and can't in any way be verified and are usually false.

Like what happened to Filo. The fellow who did that should have been severely chastised by the leadership and then both men brought into a place to iron out the issue. Instead, the opposite occurred. Sadly, the commonest occurrence nowadays.

Going directly to someone and asking an explanation for something one has heard may be uncomfortable, however it is often the best way to deal with the situation. One just has to remember to remain calm in such a situation and be somewhat... circumspect in how it is approached. Just goin up to the poor fellow and blurbing out, "I heard this about you, since when have you become a Heretic?"


Tact, is something I struggle with.

 

[porterross]

Well, said, Stude. There's something to that "straight from the horse's mouth" philosophy and I couldn't agree more.

 

[seajoy]

Thank you, Stude. That made a lot of sense.

 

[Studeclunker]

Well, said, Stude. There's something to that "straight from the horse's mouth" philosophy and I couldn't agree more.

LOL, my problem Porter is not so much the Horse's mouth as resembling the other end. I mean... well, there really is a huge body of evidence to support that, LOL!