Lashon Hara -- Evil Speech

When I fist learned about Lashon Hara I was excited.

I once worked at a company that was destroyed by Lashon Hara. The company ran outdoor adventure trips, and the staff spent all their time together. I woud routinely discuss who was going out, or sleeping, with who even before they themselves had done anything.

In the end it was the owner of the company who was the vicitm. Everyone shared there individual gripes and complaints against him. These stories piled up. Eventually people came to see the owner as incompetent, and if he left surely someone better would take over. Talnted staff quit. For a variety of reasons the company eventually shut down, but a once vibrant company of people who loved to chat and socialize was gone.

Sitting at home with some friends we all look a little lost. What do we talk about? We have all seen the impact Lashon Hara can have, and now we do not know what to say. What do we talk about?

The initial excitement about not speakin Lashon Hara fades as we face the dull reality of relearning how to be -- how to simply sit down and talk amongst friends.