by Mike Bennett

A gossip or talebearer is only interested in sharing juicy information, no matter the effects on the people he or she is talking about. Often when things are told in confidence, there is a promise not to tell, so in revealing such secrets, the talebearer is betraying a trust and being dishonest.

But a faithful friend keeps secrets and cares about the best interests of his or her friends. He or she only reveals a secret when it is in the best interest of the friend (in cases like abuse, drugs or threat of suicide).

For more about gossip, see “Understanding and Preventing Gossip.”