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When slander and calumny enter conversation, one can no longer dignify it even as gossip; it has become sin. Conver- sation, intended by God to weave a thread of brotherhood about mankind, is through these delivered to the father of lies and made the engine of harm and discord. It is too unspeakable to be a problem for decent people. But the factor of detraction in gossip is a real problem even for them. Detraction is saying things about our acquaintances, our neighbors, and people in the news which, while true, are unfavorable, belittling, uncomplimentary. The problem is that in some instances unfavorable truths need to be told. We indicated above that in informal reference to ascertain a particular person's suitability for social or business engagements, a pertinently unfavorable character-tisic must be stated. There is also another curious social value in detraction and the resultant scandal. |
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