It is said that friendships are the truest bonds. Familial relationships are created and bound to us by birth. They are not chosen by us. But friends are the people who are chosen by us. Friends share everything with each other without hesitation, be it any joy or sorrow, no matter how big or small. They confide their most intimate secrets and fears, secure in the knowledge that their friends will understand and comfort them, and perhaps provide the ideal advice for the circumstances.
Thus the question arises what is deemed as the right and ethical conduct among a group of mutual friends. Since they are all friends with each other, they are all mutually trusting, and thus have formed a strong bond and group. Should friends share what is said about other friends behind their backs? And if a friend, with great confidence, gossips about another friend with a mutual friend, should the mutual friend uphold his confidence, or inform the other friend about the gossip?
Friendships are one of the purest forms of bonding among human beings. Friendships are built and strengthened on the twin pillars of mutual trust, respect and confidence. Friends should try to strive and ensure that these pillars and values remain intact. To not inform the absent friend about the gossip is unethical. Gossip about mutual friends is not ethical as well. Thus the gossiping friend cannot hold his or her friends to blame if the gossip reaches the mutual friend. Friends must be able to tell each other anything, good or bad, thus eliminating the need for gossip.
References
Psychology Today. (2014). Honesty Can Make or Break a Relationship. [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-fitness/201411/honesty-can-make-or-break-relationship.
Psychology Today. (2018). Friendology: The Science of Friendship. [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/201805/friendology-the-science-friendship.