Gossiper's Corner

For the last couple of months or so, I'd been hearing people talk about a website that was about the people and issues in the county in which I live. From what I had heard about it, I had the impression it was nothing more than a sort of gossipers corner. Because of that, I honestly hadn't had much of an interest in looking it up, but the other night, curiosity got the better of me. I went online and searched for the site. Eventually, I found it and what I discovered was something so vial, nasty, and sad that what followed was nothing short of the wrath of Brandon.

I realized real quick that this was nothing more than a site devoted purely to slander, gossip, innuendo, hate, and trash talk. One particular forum was dedicated solely to bashing a friend of mine from high school, who, yes, has done a lot in recent years that she shouldn't have done, but that still doesn't justify the treatment toward her. She was one of the best friends I've ever had. If I could have gotten past thinking myself gay at the time, I would have probably wanted to go out with her. She was one of the most loving, caring, kind persons I've ever known. Being around her literally was the best part of my high school experience. To read some of the things I was reading about her... I just wanted to cry. At one point I literally just wanted to reach through the computer and strangle all those people who were tearing her down as they were. Here are people who were solely devoting themselves to making fun of her, judging her, and tearing her down like nothing I've ever seen before. It just made me sick to my stomach. The way they were talking about her you'd have thought she was the worst person on the face of the earth. No one deserves to be talked about like that.

Another forum which got my intention was one dedicated to homosexuality. I won't get into detail about that much. Most of you by now should know where I stand on the matter. After reading through most of that, I felt such an anger I don't know if I've ever felt before. It didn't help me any to read what some of my fellow so called Christians in this county had to say on the matter. The love of Christ certainly was nowhere to be seen in their comments.

I had soon read all that I cared to read (it certainly didn't take long), and I posted my own thoughts on the site. If you can't tell from my tone, I pretty much let them have it. Be it right or wrong, I let the busy bodies of my county know exactly what I felt of them. I didn't name call, or get nasty, but I certainly hope I proved a point about how despicable their actions are and how a no good site like that really ought to be shut down. In fact, if I thought it wouldn't draw more attention to the site, I'd write a piece to go in the local newspaper condemning the thing. It's nothing but trash talk, deliberately designed to belittle and tear people down, and I pray it'll be shut down soon.

I have to ask this. What is wrong with people? Are their hearts really so full of hate for their fellow man? Do they really get some sort of thrill out of treating people like that? To watch all the news about Brittany Spears here lately, I guess the answer would be yes. So many people certainly have enjoyed all the coverage of her downfalls. But why? Why do people think that's so entertaining? I find it sad. People who find themselves in a bad state ought not to be made fun of or belittled or talked about so badly behind their backs. They should be helped! They should be prayed for! They should be loved!

Frankly, after seeing that site, I'm embarrassed to call this place my home. It makes me wonder why I even bother to stay here. There again, I know it's not only here that things like this go on. Seems like it's everywhere these days. People don't seem to have any love or understanding, sympathy, compassion or anything else good for their fellow man anymore. Everyone's too busy being selfish to care, I guess. Or too evil? I just don't understand it.

Please think long and hard before you decide to gossip about other people and talk badly about them. I know I've been accused of this in the past, but it's something that's just no good at all. All it does is hurt people. And as Christians, we should certainly know better.