Gossip or "Facts"

I apologize for not writing in so long. I have lots to talk about, but it is usually a soap-box that that will drive me back to the blog, and it has done so today.

Gossip, as defined by Merriam-Webster Online is: 1- a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others
2 a: rumor or report of an intimate nature b: a chatty talk c: the subject matter of gossip.

Now, my issue lately is that I get emails about individuals that are sent under the pretense of "political facts". The truth of the matter is, a large number of the "facts" are disputed, and/or reported as INCORRECT or false. Now, I know, you can't believe everything you read, and hear- that's why I bother to check the "facts". But that goes both ways. So if you don't know if it's true or fact, you shouldn't forward it, and you shouldn't repeat it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Bible specifically talks about this. So my question is, did the Bible only mean for us to apply this rule of gossip to people who are Christian, or should it apply to everyone? Maybe just the ones who have the same political views as us. I guess that's the way some read it.

The irony is, I have a lot of the same views as those who send/forward/reply to said emails. However, it annoys me IMMENSELY to face a personal attack, just because I bothered to check the facts.

How about, instead of forwarding incorrect information about people we DON'T like- we forward the positive stuff about people we do?

And this my friends, is my rebuttal.