If I dislike anything in the world it’s what I call BAD NEWS BEARS.

We have all met them and they come in many disguises.

When I was at primary school they were known as Tattletales.

Google defines that as: A person, especially a child, who secretly tells someone in authority, especially a teacher, that someone else has done something bad, often in order to cause trouble.

In my own words – A Bad News Bear.

They are the people who sidle up to you and say, “I think you should know what so and so said about you.” Usually with an overly caring expression on their face, but they know bloody well it’s going to hurt you, and I honestly think they get gleeful satisfaction out of it…

They are also the ones that come and say to you that they heard something terrible about a dear friend…

A gentle soul told me in great distress that she had been told something about another friend she knew was totally untrue, and was so ashamed that she was too timid to denounce the fact.

This is what happens, and causes far too much distress.

With me; when they try to do this, I say flatly I don’t want to hear it, and if they keep persisting they get told to STFU, and I walk off.

Once again today, I had someone distressed over something told to him by a relative that I already disliked (and do even more so now). He’s a… you may insert your own suitable swearwords here… mine are unprintable.

IF this person knew something there was NO NEED to pass it on… even if it was true, some things are better left unsaid, untold, kept to himself and forgotten.

Over many years, especially in my occupation, I’ve been told a lot of stories and heard a lot of tales, and I carry many secrets… which will remain unrepeated.

I will always be that way… please, in your life, don’t be a Bad News Bear… call them out, tell them to stop, walk off.

Kindness rules – so many things are best left unsaid. Don’t be A BAD NEWS BEAR.