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Is this gossip?

DirectionSeeker

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Hi,

Are these scenarios involving gossip and therefore sin?

1. You’ve been asked by the police to tell information about a suspect. You tell the negative things - the person robbed place x, said bad things y, did horrible thing z etc.

2. You know your sibling is dating someone you know has a history of bad things. You decide to tell your sibling about those things, not in order to express hate on the individual, but to make your sibling aware of the history for protective purposes.

3. You tell your friends about some horrible things you’ve witnessed that guy x did. You don’t tell the name of guy x, but you just share for educational purposes, for example how a demonic possession looked like or how schizophrenia manifested.

4. You share rumors (so not confirmed information) about a certain individual to someone you love for protective purposes. Just to give them a warning.

I guess the question is what really distinguishes gossip from information sharing?
 

eleos1954

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Hi,

Are these scenarios involving gossip and therefore sin?

1. You’ve been asked by the police to tell information about a suspect. You tell the negative things - the person robbed place x, said bad things y, did horrible thing z etc.

2. You know your sibling is dating someone you know has a history of bad things. You decide to tell your sibling about those things, not in order to express hate on the individual, but to make your sibling aware of the history for protective purposes.

3. You tell your friends about some horrible things you’ve witnessed that guy x did. You don’t tell the name of guy x, but you just share for educational purposes, for example how a demonic possession looked like or how schizophrenia manifested.

4. You share rumors (so not confirmed information) about a certain individual to someone you love for protective purposes. Just to give them a warning.

I guess the question is what really distinguishes gossip from information sharing?

Gossip is sharing/providing information that is NOT confirmed as being true.
 
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FutureAndAHope

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1. You’ve been asked by the police to tell information about a suspect. You tell the negative things - the person robbed place x, said bad things y, did horrible thing z etc.

Not gossip, we should tell the police if a crime has been committed.

2. You know your sibling is dating someone you know has a history of bad things. You decide to tell your sibling about those things, not in order to express hate on the individual, but to make your sibling aware of the history for protective purposes.

Not gossip, it is protecting a person from harm.

3. You tell your friends about some horrible things you’ve witnessed that guy x did. You don’t tell the name of guy x, but you just share for educational purposes, for example how a demonic possession looked like or how schizophrenia manifested.

The guy probably needs help, but you should not spread stories about him, it could cause x harm.

4. You share rumors (so not confirmed information) about a certain individual to someone you love for protective purposes. Just to give them a warning.

As long as you stress it was just a rumor, and make them aware you are sharing it for protective purposes, it should be fine.

I guess the question is what really distinguishes gossip from information sharing?

Ask yourself will this information hurt or protect. The Bible is all about protection of people.
 
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Sketcher

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1. You’ve been asked by the police to tell information about a suspect. You tell the negative things - the person robbed place x, said bad things y, did horrible thing z etc.
No.

2. You know your sibling is dating someone you know has a history of bad things. You decide to tell your sibling about those things, not in order to express hate on the individual, but to make your sibling aware of the history for protective purposes.
No, since we're restricting this to known facts.

3. You tell your friends about some horrible things you’ve witnessed that guy x did. You don’t tell the name of guy x, but you just share for educational purposes, for example how a demonic possession looked like or how schizophrenia manifested.
Unless they can infer his identity, no.

4. You share rumors (so not confirmed information) about a certain individual to someone you love for protective purposes. Just to give them a warning.
Yes.
 
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JohnD70X7

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The best definition I've heard is "if the person you're talking to is neither part of the problem nor the solution, then it's gossip".

Well said.

I would also add:

Setting aside the fact that people are poor judges of truth, a strong implication about what gossip is... is that it involves untruth.

I saw a lady once who seemed to be eating her own boogers. Turns out she was biting her nails.

That sort of thing.
 
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