"GOSSIPITIS
"GOSSIPITIS"
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them;
for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:1, 12
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Exodus 20:16.
Gossiping is a common fault. Perhaps it is because we are all so much interested in each other
that we like to talk about one another. How wonderful it would be if every time we did that we
said kindly things. What if we praised the virtues of people we know instead of dwelling upon
their faults? No one, perhaps, is so faultless that his life and actions are above criticism. But
there seems to be a particular wicked pleasure many people get in discussing the weaknesses
or unfortunate aspects of other people's character. Some people are so given to this bad habit
that they might be said to have "gossipitis."
It is a sort of contagious disease too, for it spreads very rap-
idly. It has been known to infect a whole community in a few
short weeks. When it reaches an epidemic stage it usually
amounts to a community scandal. There are very few, if any,
of us who have escaped some of its symptoms at some time
or other. No matter how we may despise and loathe it in oth-
ers, seldom do we recognize it in ourselves.
The progression of this social disease goes something like
this. A startling bit of unexpected news is heard, and we run
to the phone or next door in order to ask the exciting question,
"Did you hear?" The person to whom the news is relayed then thoughtlessly repeats the tale
to someone else, possibly not getting the facts just straight. Unintentionally the story is garbled
and changed as it is passed from one to another, so that by the time it has spread to the edge of
town it is in what the moving-picture industry calls technicolor.
This aspect of the disease is not nearly so bad, however, as the malignant type, in which someone's
character is assailed and his reputation injured. The source of this type of "gossipitis" is usu-
ally in the mind of someone who has conceived a dislike for another, or who thinks he has been
injured by another. In order to "get even" he picks flaws in the person who has won his ill-will,
stressing trivial acts and ascribing selfish or unworthy motives to them. The story is picked up
even by parties who have only a casual interest in the matter and passed on as the very truth.
What untold harm has been done to perfectly innocent people in this way!
Before we pass on such stories about another, would it not be a good plan to put ourselves in
his place and judge whether or not we would like such a thing to be said about us? But you say,
if it is true, what harm is there in repeating it? Well, certainly, it is all the more important that we
do not repeat a story of evil if it is true, and it is all the more to our credit if we put a curb on our
desire to spread it. For if there is no foundation to a story, though it may inconvenience the oneabout whom it is told for a time, when the truth is known such a person is vindicated. But for the
poor fellow who has made a serious mistake and needs help, such a story of his failure might
blast all hopes for his recovery to the esteem of his friends.
One of the ancient philosophers said, "No man is my friend who will either permit my name to be
rudely handled in his presence, or so handle it himself; and if he repeats gossip while disbelieving
it himself, then he is ten times my enemy."
If we hear some surprising bit of news about another that shocks us, would it not be the kind
thing, if we knew him well enough, to go to him and ask whether the report is true? If it should be
true, then we should plead with him to take whatever steps are necessary to set his reputation
right before his fellows. Perhaps things are not as they seem, or there may be circumstances
which he would reveal to us that would make us sympathetic with him and desirous of helping
him. Usually there are angles to every tale about another, which, if known, would change the
whole judgment of the public in regard to the person or people involved.
Let us think of a few examples of how this terrible disease of "gossipitis" works. A prominent
church pastor wanted to present some educational films to his church young people. A local mo-
tion-picture manager was agent for
these films. It was necessary to go
to the theater office to select them.
The pastor and his son went to
the theater and were shown to the
projection room. Some member
of his church saw him and his son
entering the theater entrance. He
spread the story around that the
pastor made a practice of taking
his boy to picture shows. The pas-
tor was distressed at the gossip.
He found it necessary to make a
public explanation.
In a crowded club car of a railroad train, a Christian young woman was sitting alone until at one
station an older woman got on and found the empty seat beside this girl. In an hour or two, the
older woman signaled to the porter to bring her a drink from the club car. He came back with
a bottle of beer. She asked the young lady whether she would hold the bottle until she could
find her money in her handbag. The girl, wanting to be courteous, did so, although with much
reluctance. Somebody passing in the aisle just then recognized her, and spread the story to her
friends that she was seen drinking beer on a train. If it had not been for the high character of
the young woman involved, many might have believed the story, and her reputation would have
been much damaged. Fortunately, she was such a refined and spiritually-minded person that no
one would believe the story.
Such stories only prove how wicked reports are made out of innocent circumstances. Of course,
it also shows how careful we should be not to give anyone a chance to spread such stories about
us. The Bible tells us to avoid the very appearance of evil. Our reputation is what we make it,and we cannot be too careful that we are not caught in situations or circumstances that cannot
be explained. There is a wholesome sermon in this poem by Benton P. Stebbins:
'They say'-ah, well, suppose they do:
But can they prove the story true?
Suspicion may arise from naught
But malice, envy, want of thought;
Why count yourself among the 'they'
Who whisper what they dare not say?
'They say'-but why the tale rehearse,
And help to make the matter worse?
No good can possibly accrue
From telling what may be untrue;
And is it not a nobler plan
To speak of all the best you can?
'They say'-well, if it should be so,
Why need you tell the tale of woe?
Will it the bitter wrong redress,
Or make one pang of sorrow less?
Will it erring one restore,
Henceforth to go and sin no more?
'They say'-oh, pause and look within;
See how your heart inclines to sin.
Watch! Lest in dark temptation's hour
You too should sink beneath its power.
Pity the frail-weep o'er their fall;
But speak of good or not at all."
"Gossipitis" is a disease-a disease of the heart and mind and will. Perhaps its best antidote is
given to us by Jesus, our perfect example: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do
ye even so to them." When we obey that command we shall be showing kindness in its most
noble form.
The Youth's Instructor. Adapted.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them;
for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:1, 12
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Exodus 20:16.
Gossiping is a common fault. Perhaps it is because we are all so much interested in each other
that we like to talk about one another. How wonderful it would be if every time we did that we
said kindly things. What if we praised the virtues of people we know instead of dwelling upon
their faults? No one, perhaps, is so faultless that his life and actions are above criticism. But
there seems to be a particular wicked pleasure many people get in discussing the weaknesses
or unfortunate aspects of other people's character. Some people are so given to this bad habit
that they might be said to have "gossipitis."
It is a sort of contagious disease too, for it spreads very rap-
idly. It has been known to infect a whole community in a few
short weeks. When it reaches an epidemic stage it usually
amounts to a community scandal. There are very few, if any,
of us who have escaped some of its symptoms at some time
or other. No matter how we may despise and loathe it in oth-
ers, seldom do we recognize it in ourselves.
The progression of this social disease goes something like
this. A startling bit of unexpected news is heard, and we run
to the phone or next door in order to ask the exciting question,
"Did you hear?" The person to whom the news is relayed then thoughtlessly repeats the tale
to someone else, possibly not getting the facts just straight. Unintentionally the story is garbled
and changed as it is passed from one to another, so that by the time it has spread to the edge of
town it is in what the moving-picture industry calls technicolor.
This aspect of the disease is not nearly so bad, however, as the malignant type, in which someone's
character is assailed and his reputation injured. The source of this type of "gossipitis" is usu-
ally in the mind of someone who has conceived a dislike for another, or who thinks he has been
injured by another. In order to "get even" he picks flaws in the person who has won his ill-will,
stressing trivial acts and ascribing selfish or unworthy motives to them. The story is picked up
even by parties who have only a casual interest in the matter and passed on as the very truth.
What untold harm has been done to perfectly innocent people in this way!
Before we pass on such stories about another, would it not be a good plan to put ourselves in
his place and judge whether or not we would like such a thing to be said about us? But you say,
if it is true, what harm is there in repeating it? Well, certainly, it is all the more important that we
do not repeat a story of evil if it is true, and it is all the more to our credit if we put a curb on our
desire to spread it. For if there is no foundation to a story, though it may inconvenience the oneabout whom it is told for a time, when the truth is known such a person is vindicated. But for the
poor fellow who has made a serious mistake and needs help, such a story of his failure might
blast all hopes for his recovery to the esteem of his friends.
One of the ancient philosophers said, "No man is my friend who will either permit my name to be
rudely handled in his presence, or so handle it himself; and if he repeats gossip while disbelieving
it himself, then he is ten times my enemy."
If we hear some surprising bit of news about another that shocks us, would it not be the kind
thing, if we knew him well enough, to go to him and ask whether the report is true? If it should be
true, then we should plead with him to take whatever steps are necessary to set his reputation
right before his fellows. Perhaps things are not as they seem, or there may be circumstances
which he would reveal to us that would make us sympathetic with him and desirous of helping
him. Usually there are angles to every tale about another, which, if known, would change the
whole judgment of the public in regard to the person or people involved.
Let us think of a few examples of how this terrible disease of "gossipitis" works. A prominent
church pastor wanted to present some educational films to his church young people. A local mo-
tion-picture manager was agent for
these films. It was necessary to go
to the theater office to select them.
The pastor and his son went to
the theater and were shown to the
projection room. Some member
of his church saw him and his son
entering the theater entrance. He
spread the story around that the
pastor made a practice of taking
his boy to picture shows. The pas-
tor was distressed at the gossip.
He found it necessary to make a
public explanation.
In a crowded club car of a railroad train, a Christian young woman was sitting alone until at one
station an older woman got on and found the empty seat beside this girl. In an hour or two, the
older woman signaled to the porter to bring her a drink from the club car. He came back with
a bottle of beer. She asked the young lady whether she would hold the bottle until she could
find her money in her handbag. The girl, wanting to be courteous, did so, although with much
reluctance. Somebody passing in the aisle just then recognized her, and spread the story to her
friends that she was seen drinking beer on a train. If it had not been for the high character of
the young woman involved, many might have believed the story, and her reputation would have
been much damaged. Fortunately, she was such a refined and spiritually-minded person that no
one would believe the story.
Such stories only prove how wicked reports are made out of innocent circumstances. Of course,
it also shows how careful we should be not to give anyone a chance to spread such stories about
us. The Bible tells us to avoid the very appearance of evil. Our reputation is what we make it,and we cannot be too careful that we are not caught in situations or circumstances that cannot
be explained. There is a wholesome sermon in this poem by Benton P. Stebbins:
'They say'-ah, well, suppose they do:
But can they prove the story true?
Suspicion may arise from naught
But malice, envy, want of thought;
Why count yourself among the 'they'
Who whisper what they dare not say?
'They say'-but why the tale rehearse,
And help to make the matter worse?
No good can possibly accrue
From telling what may be untrue;
And is it not a nobler plan
To speak of all the best you can?
'They say'-well, if it should be so,
Why need you tell the tale of woe?
Will it the bitter wrong redress,
Or make one pang of sorrow less?
Will it erring one restore,
Henceforth to go and sin no more?
'They say'-oh, pause and look within;
See how your heart inclines to sin.
Watch! Lest in dark temptation's hour
You too should sink beneath its power.
Pity the frail-weep o'er their fall;
But speak of good or not at all."
"Gossipitis" is a disease-a disease of the heart and mind and will. Perhaps its best antidote is
given to us by Jesus, our perfect example: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do
ye even so to them." When we obey that command we shall be showing kindness in its most
noble form.
The Youth's Instructor. Adapted.
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