Beware of rumour-mongers
Ambika Ananth
Many people in this world, sadly, are rumour-mongers, indulging in gossiping, spreading unkind information and untruthful news about others.
It is confirmed through studies that there is a natural thrill some people experience doing such a thing. They truly enjoy the euphoria, the pseudo-power, the cheap feelings and the sadistic pleasure the act causes. The dangerous thing is they cloak it in falsity, as if they are ‘concerned’ but spread all kinds of gossip. These people are adept at concealing their prying and snooping in beautiful clothes of empathy. What should be discussed in private, they enjoy making it a public affair, adding hyperbolic details. These people live shallow lives, have unsuccessful careers, suffer bad personal lives, hence find a reason for mudslinging and gossiping about other people who are better off.
They have a constant desire to explore others’ lives, to find intimate information, and to add their own conclusions, unconcerned about the concomitant results. Gossip will ruin relationships, friendships, hurt sentiments and damage the very social fabric. This ravenous hunger has deep roots which if not pulled out, will start attacking the very person like an auto immune disease.
Gossip, rumour, unkind criticism cause damage to the psyche of not only the one who indulges in speaking but to the one indulging in listening too. Sometimes rumour-mongering starts quite harmlessly, just as some simple social gossiping, but that becomes such an addictive habit, one wouldn’t mind bad-mouthing at others’ expense.
True friends can help somebody addicted to this condition. If the person is too addicted and hooked to this terrible habit, a well-wisher or a family member must convince him/her to visit a therapist or a counselor, who will ‘listen’ to the gossip welling up in the person, will help to fight the condition. It is important because at least with professional listeners the words uttered will remain safe, they will not seep into others’ lives causing irrevocable damage. Therapists become the careful keepers of gossip.
A wise sage gave a very important advice that one must make the words one plans to utter pass through three gateways – the first one being ‘ are the words true’, the second being ‘ are the words necessary’, and the third being ‘are the words kind’.
The sage concludes by saying that ‘if the words pass through the three gateways, you need not have any fear what the result of your speech can be’! If everyone follows this, how canker-free the world would be!
