For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 15, 2013

One of my long standing paranoias is about what women say about me behind my back, especially the one who smile politely to my face.

Pain and anguish are so much better when they’re happening to someone else.

Under the disguise of friendship…

This would be sexist except the comic strip is written and drawn by a woman. ;-)

That’s one thing—men aren’t ‘two-faced’ like women. If a man doesn’t like you, you know it right away. Unless he is some ’coniving low life who wants to ‘stab you in the back’ for your job or parking place.

its not gossip ? OK !!!!!!

I really dislike gossip.

I’ve been talked about behind my back by both men and women. The advantage I had with the worst of the men is he took me aside at the end of the year and said “I’ve always hated you, even when you were driving me for hours, lending me your car, etc. I find you boring and you don’t do drugs.” which was more honest than most of the women, that I had to overhear or find they eventually started avoiding me despite having pretended to be friends. I wish more people would be honest, and sooner, and not try to befriend to be nice. I do NOT trust anybody any more, unless they are either bluntly unkind (so they wouldn’t act nice to my face unless they meant it) or go out of their way to spend time with me.

I actually had to ask someone the other month what exactly gossip is, because asking like “did Julia get in to Stanford?” is not gossip, apparently “dirt” is gossip. I’m not sure about just talking mean about people behind their back. I don’t think that’s gossip but I hate it more.

“I dislike gossiping both relating it and hearing it.”-Good on you… I couldn’t agree more.

I believe you reap what you sow or what goes around comes around, or however you want to think of it. If you gossip about people, people will gossip about you. If your friend gossips to you about another friend, when those two get together they will gossip about you. Gossip is also a very low type of conversation, talking about others shows you and your gossip partner have nothing going on in your own lives to talk about so you talk about someone else who you must think is living a more interesting life than you are.

Remember:Those that talk to you about otherstalk to others about you8!

It’s not gossip any more. It’s social networking.

Just one of the many reasons I’m not on Facebook, Twitter, etc. If I don’t put my life out there for everyone to know about, then there’s nothing for them to talk about behind my back . . . unless they just resort to making things up because they’ve got no life and envy mine. If that’s the case, then so be it; I can’t spend my time worrying about things like that that I can’t control — I’ve got too much else to do. Eventually, they’ll give up on me and move on to trash-talking about someone else.

I dislike gossip too. What’s the news? :)

It takes two to gossip, Just don’t engage.

And let me tell you about Connie. Bless her heart. She just had to go and————-

A plaque found in the Lighthouse Chapel over the Sea:

My name is Gossip.

I have no respect for justice.

I maim without killing.

I break hearts and ruin lives.

I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted the more I am believed.

My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.

To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive I become.

I am nobody’s friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.

I topple governments and wreck marriages.

I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion. I make innocent people cry in their pillows.

Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip.

I make headlines and headaches.

Before you repeat a story, ask yourself:

Is it true?

Is it harmless?

Is it necessary?

If it isn’t, don’t repeat it.

I think Annie was always jealous because she knew Connie was Ellie’s real best friend and she was the third wheel. Connie & Ellie were college roommates and had baby boys at the same time.