Mad As Hell

[poliphilo]

You know when a friend or relative says something belittling about you to another friend or relative and this second friend or relative (not that they agree with what was said, oh no) just has to tell you all about it- well, I think that kind of thing is really low. 

Comments

[w. lotus (from livejournal.com)]

It depends on the situation. If the person telling is just gossiping and getting joy out of it, that is low. If the person telling is warning you not to trust that other relative, because they are talking badly about you behind your back while smiling to your face, that is loyalty.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking this. But then I also observe the actions of the one doing the telling - do they continue to be a confidant/friend to the one who has such a low opinion of you?

It's a fraught situation in any case.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The case I know most about involves a matriarch trying to play her children off against one another.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

Oh no. That's awful. I've met a couple of people with parents like that, it does terrible damage.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I have two cases in mind. The first is the one that has made me angry- the other- which I know less about- could be about loyalty- though the informee hasn't taken it that way.