There's tattling, there's gossip, and then there's what the Corax do. Handled properly, Gossip is so much more than hearing a story from one person and passing it on to the next. It involves coercing additional details from informants, and earning the confidence of those who "really aren't supposed to say anything." Gossip is also the fine art of starting and spreading rumors, and directing the flow of informarion once it leaves your lips (or beak). Finally, there are always the nuances of altering information or dreaming up misinformation, so that only the words you want public get passed along. This is a wonderful way to confound enemies, discredit rivals, and make sure that no one but you knows the whole truth.

Assuming, of course, that no one was practicing a similar sort of deception on you.

1. Novice: Joseph told me that Chris liked Gretchen because she was cute... amateur stuff.
2. Competent: The Walter Winchell of the school cafeteria.
3. Practiced: You reign supreme at the office water cooler.
4. Expert: You know exactly what's going on ? and share some of what you know.
5. Master: You can drop a rumor onto the Net and hear it reported back to you as the "next big thing" within the hour.

Gossip Columnists, Maiden Aunts, Net Bigshots

Rumormongering, Misinformation, Sifting for the Truth