I fear were acting like children....in our 50s

[Soreteatowel]

A friend (aquaintance really if I'm honest) who is very active in the community, really making a difference over a lot of years, has had a falling out with some of the more gossipy types in the town, who are making life quite uncomfortable for him at community events. (Gotta love a small town 🤣)

Meanwhile some of the same people have been spreading malicious rumours about my personal life.

We've been gossiping ourselves consoling each other about it and persuading ourselves we don't care, when clearly we do, or we wouldn't be talking about it.

This weekend there's an event we're both committed to be at. We've said we're going "together" to really give them something to talk about 😆

Very childish indeed, but fun...?

Seems a bit daft to play their game, it'll just add fuel to the fire won't it? Why change what you would naturally do for them?

Ah just do it! And have fun!

Good for you! That'll give them plenty to talk about.

Is the gossip that they think you and your friend are having an affair? I would rise above it and cultivate an air of 'I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks' and the gossip mill will move onto someone else. People that spread malicious gossip are utterly pathetic.

Not an affair with this friend no, another one who's married and who has never been anything but a perfect gentleman with me. We don't even spend much together and never just the two of us, but that doesn't stop some people.

I'm thinking this could deflect attention from married friend, where it could actually be quite harmful. Any rumours about ostracised friend would just be amusing.

That's kind of the point 🤣 To set up their gossip for them.