Yes, Dana. My sentiments exactly.
All one needs to do is sit for a while at my club, wait for someone to leave, and listen to the old guy farts (who I dearly love!) talk about whoever just left.
Maybe I'm not privy to it, but I don't hear the kind of gossip here that I heard in my old office.
I'll admit to occasionally not minding "hearing" the gossip, if it's not vicious, but I don't repeat it. I then make my own conclusions. In the end it doesn't matter what's true or not, I am only affected by how people treat me.
Lying should be avoided at all costs, no matter who you are.
I did read an article recently that men tend to lie more about stuff like "where they've been" and women tend to lie more about money stuff.
Finally, I don't mind when people talk about me behind my back. It just means my life is more exciting to them than their own.
I know what's true.