We are all guilty of it at some point and to some degree now and then, myself included. I do try (and as a human sometimes fail) to avoid gossiping. When we speak wrongly of others, not only are you cheating the person with whom we are speaking to out of knowing a potentially good friend, but we are also cheating the person being spoken of. We are essentially assisting the listener to form a negative opinion of another. So please think about the harm you can inflict upon others, before you say something about that person.

Thank you
kindspirit