Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Taiwantroll]

I have had some problems with gossip since I have been here in Korea and I thought it best to write this guide for people.

_______________________________________________________

Gossip and Ethics

Gossip is idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. It forms one of the oldest and most common means of sharing (unproven) facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and other variations into the information transmitted. The term also carries implications that the news so transmitted has a personal or trivial nature, as opposed to normal conversation.

Everyone has had some bad experience with gossip and yet many people do it, sometimes without even realizing it. Why do people gossip? Well it is a form of entertainment, something to talk about over a few drinks when our own lives seem so much less interesting. But gossip can have dire consequences on someone�s reputation.

So what is gossip and how can it be avoided. Well below is a guide to avoiding gossip.

What can you talk about?

1. You can talk about yourself � but keep in mind that any information you share with someone else should be something you would not mind telling the world; if you are sharing something private only do so with trusted friends and only when it is clearly understood that you do not wish that information to be shared
2. You can talk about things which you have seen � however anything which you may have witnessed involving someone else, if it has the potential to be embarrassing, should be shared in a manner that does not exaggerate or convey bias; let others be the judge; for example if someone lies to you and you tell someone �He lies to everyone� then that clearly cannot be justified
3. You may talk about things others have said to you � however only in cases where such information is or should be public knowledge, or in cases where you know that person has also openly shared that information with others; when you are uncertain it is best to keep it to yourself; the exception to this rule is when what was said constitutes an action or interaction with you, for example when someone lies to you
4. You may share feelings � your feelings are your own
5. Do not use labels � where those labels cannot be justified by a first hand account; for example, if someone has lied to you, you would be justified in referring to them as a �Liar� but if a friend related to you an account of someone lying you would not be justified in using that label since you have no first hand knowledge of the truth of that label

If you follow these simple rules I do not believe that anyone can or would hold you morally culpable for any malicious gossip or rumors. You can however only be responsible for yourself, but hopefully you can make an impact on others by leading by example.

This guide does make certain ethical and philosophical assumptions. For example, we assume that truth can only be known to someone through a first hand account, through what we have seen or heard. Even if you trust someone implicitly it is best to err on the side of caution in cases where you have not witnessed or heard something yourself. We also assume that our feelings toward someone may color the impression others have of that person. That is why we must be clear about what we have personally witnessed and allow others to judge for themselves. Afterall, we can only be responsible for ourselves.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

Stop plagiarizing Wikipedia.

[Taiwantroll]

I'm a teacher. I can plagiarize all I want.