Gossip: Have You Heard? 流言流言莫牽掛

Hello. You know me. I am in your office, at your parties, and on your phone. I am cunning and cruel. I have the power to ruin your life. For amusement, I will break your heart and cause you to have sleepless nights. I have made governments collapse and marriages fall apart.

Since I have no face, you have no protection against becoming my victim. Try and find me if you dare. But I leave no trace and have no friends. My power grows over time. People believe me the more I am quoted. Once I encounter your reputation, it will be changed forever. Who am I?

I am Gossip. I have existed since people could talk, and I will be here long after you are gone. So remember to ask yourself the next time you repeat a story about somebody: Is it true? Is it fair? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then perhaps you should keep quiet.

喂。你認識我。我就在你的辦公室里，在你的聚會里，在你的電話里。我既狡詐又殘酷。我擁有足以毀掉你一生的力量。閑極無聊，我會傷透你的心，讓你輾轉難眠。我已經讓政府垮臺，婚姻破裂。

因為我沒有臉，你毫無防備，成為我的犧牲品。如果你有膽量，就設法來找我。但我不會留下任何痕跡，而且我也沒有朋友。我的力量與日俱增。我被傳述得越多，人們就會更相信我。一旦我扯上了你的名譽，你將聲名狼藉。我是誰？

我就是“流言”。從人可以說話起我就一直存在；在你過世后，我仍將在此長存。所以要記住，下一次當你要重述有關某人的故事時，先問問自己：是真的嗎？公平嗎？如果兩個問題中有一個答案是“不”，那么也許你就該保持沉默。