Have you ever admired a beautiful painting or enjoyed a particular book and then some helpful person came along and pointed out the flaws? Yes, the painting would have been fine, except… and the imperfections are pointed out. Or, how about this: The book would have been really great if the author hadn’t made an error in calculations or otherwise typed a less than perfect manuscript.
The same is true of old movies. I say “old movies” because I don’t watch any recent ones. If an actor or actress does a fine job in his or her particular role, I really don’t need to know about his home life or his many shortcomings. These may all be true, but why tell me? I don’t think it enriches my life in any particular way; instead, it sort of dims the brightness.
This is akin to gossip. We all know that gossip is hurtful and wrong, so why do so many indulge in it? Rumors are enticing things and are spread by people wanting to appear to be in the know. Even if gossip is true, if it’s harmful, why repeat it, whether it’s about a celebrity or someone closer to home.
Rumors and gossip have been known to hurt reputations, derail careers, and ruin marriages. The tongue is such a deadly weapon, and the wounds caused by a sharp tongue often last much longer than the wounds of battle, so we need to bridle our tongues, (James 1:26).
Am I looking at this wrong? Should I, as a writer, want to know the facts behind the story? I don’t think so. Ignorance, in some case, is truly bliss. If I’m looking at it wrong, that’s okay with me.
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the innermost parts,” Proverbs 18:8.
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