The Gossip Mill

When people are too quick to assume and judge

People are so quick to assume and judge without checking the facts. Sometimes it turns out to be funny, but other times the quick judgment and gossip could cause havoc and heartache.

The old neighbor across the street approached my friend's husband shortly after they moved to their new home. "I just want to warn you that your wife is having an affair."

"Oh?" he said. "What makes you say that?"

"Because that young guy you know with the beard and long hair comes over quite a lot when you're not home, and he stays for hours. And yesterday, a black fella came with him, too."

"I know," my fried's husband replied. "He's been helping my wife painting the nursery, and the black fella is his long time boyfriend."

The old man's jaw feel. "You mean he's gay?"

"Yes, he came out long ago, when he was a teenager."

The old neighbor felt bad, but the the damage was done. The old man started the gossip mill already before he spoke to the husband, and when her pregnancy became visible, people assumed it was the "boyfriend's" baby. It took a year before everyone in the gossip circle got the confirmation that she wasn't a cheater.

Send me your gossip mill stories via CONTACT and I will post them on this blog page. If the stories can stop the wheels of one gossip mill from turning, it could prevent that person from a lot of heartache.