Slander and gossip, including their laws
16
votes
1answer
513 views
How should we respond to objectionable content in a public forum?
The blessing and curse of sites like StackExchange is that everything happens in public. Sometimes someone will post something objectionable and it isn't possible to take the person aside for a ...
15
votes
1answer
214 views
Is unmasking an anonymous author addressed by Halacha?
If an individual writes a document for public consumption anonymously or pseudonymously and either explicitly or presumably desires to remain anonymous, is there a Halachic issue with publicly ...
12
votes
3answers
249 views
Loshon Hara against an Online Identity
Does the prohibition of Loshon Hara apply when the target is an online name or identity, where the person behind it is anonymous, such as an anonymous user on this forum ?
12
votes
2answers
161 views
Is participating on a Teacher rating site a violation of Lashon Hara?
There are websites out there (e.g. RateMyProfessors) where students can post information about teachers they had.
Is reading the "reviews" on the site, or writing such a "review", a violation of ...
10
votes
2answers
160 views
Was Rabbi Akiva obligated to divulge that his daughter was destined to die on her wedding day?
Inspired by this question (perhaps even a duplicate).
From the Talmud (Shabbat 156b) (Soncino Translation):
From R. Akiba too [we learn that] Israel is free from planetary influence. For R. Akiba ...
8
votes
2answers
295 views
What should I do about a fake convert?
I know someone who converted to Judaism, yet throughout the whole process was telling me personally (so I can't tell the Rabbi) that she wasn't interested in keeping Torah AT ALL but was telling the ...
8
votes
0answers
177 views
Tattling on fellow Mi Yodeyans
We are currently in the beginning of the 2012 Mi Yodeya Moderator Election.
To what extent can one avail oneself of the exception of "to'elet"="for a purpose" to the standard rules of Lashon HaRa' ...
6
votes
3answers
186 views
How do you vet a day school?
How do you go about investigating whether a particular day school is best for your kids? I am most interested in the behavior and attitude of the students and the professionalism of the teachers and ...
5
votes
3answers
216 views
What do you say when asked Shidduch information
Often when we are asked Shidduch information we are stuck between the Halachos of Lashon Hara. Suppose there is an illness you are aware of, however it really is not something that would affect a ...
5
votes
1answer
183 views
Must I warn people about an untrustworthy restaurant?
What is my obligation to warn fellow kosher observant people about a Restraurant that is claiming to be "Glatt" Kosher, when in fact it has no Rabbinic Supervision at all and the owner's religious ...
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Did Aharon speak Lashon Hara?
In Parashat Ki Tisa (Shemot 32:21-22) it seems that Aharon spoke Lashon Hara about Am Yisrael. Are there are any commentaries that discuss this? Do they discuss his punishment if he recieved one?
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Loshon Harah in Restaurant Reviews
There is a website and iPhone app that contain a listing of kosher restaurants. In addition, one feature is the listing of 'star-ratings' and reviews by users. Are there any halachic ramifications ...
3
votes
3answers
174 views
Which is better, lying or saying lashon hara?
Inspired by Shmeryl's frequenting of McDonalds, I have a similar question about lashon hara.
Let's say Shmeryl is coming to visit you from out-of-town on shabbat, and has no problem with doing so ...
3
votes
1answer
42 views
Naming names and שמירת הלשון
Is there a documented basis in halacha for the commonly held concept that no damage is done by slandering people without naming them?
2
votes
2answers
182 views
May I discuss my friend's unabashed un-Halachic behavior?
Suppose Shmeryl regularly and unabashedly eats at McDonald's (not the Kosher one in Israel!), or engages in some other unambiguously un-Halachic behavior. Shmeryl doesn't believe that there's anything ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
Is there a book with well sourced “discussions” on hilchos lashon hara?
I am looking for a book that does not simply state all of the halachis (such as Sefer Chafetz Chaim). Rather what I am looking for is a book that would do something like pose a question or case ...
1
vote
0answers
192 views
May a Jew own/operate a blog open to comments?
In light of recent events I would like to know if a Jew may own and operate a blog or website which is open to comments if it is found that comments can often contain lashon hara, rechilus or motzei ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Was Joseph's bad report on his brothers evidence or simply damaging?
"Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being still a lad even with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought evil ...
-5
votes
1answer
79 views
slander or truth abou OU Kashrus [closed]
I don't want to look like a total jerk but i heard from someone whose sister is married to an important rav that the OU kashrus is not so reliable as you might believe. they depend on paperwork that ...
