Tattletales...

[Gail]

It used to be a bad thing to tattle on people, but today I'm not so sure...

WDYT?

[Liz]

I think it depends on what is happening. Being the youngest, I thought it my civic duty to inform the parental units of all the going's on of my brothers and sisters. Now with my own kids, the question is "Are they doing something dangerous? Will it harm themselves or others?" if the answer is "no" then I don't want to hear it.

Now if you are talking in the broader sense, such as your community and you saw a neighbor doing something illegal, wouldn't you call the police? At the very least wouldn't you inform parents of children if this individual could harm them or was known to harm children in the past? I think we are our brother's keeper and we need to look out for the safety of others as well.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

To me, the word "tattling" invokes a picture of telling secrets that aren't you're business to tell. Of course, one would report a crime. But to me, that doesn't fall under the category of tattling. I tend to equate tattling with gossip. Others will see it differently. Just IMHO.

[Woody]

To follow up with Pam's thoughts. I think of tattling as telling something that just may not be so true. As in not really factual. Perhaps a misrepresentation.

[Outta Here]

I've always thought tattling was something one did simply to see someone else get in trouble for. I did an online search this morning on the term, "tattletale" and found many other reasons that people, children in particular, tattle. Some do it because they want to see justice; some do it out of spite; some do it as a "civic duty"; some do it out of malice; some do it simply for safety reasons; and still, others do it as a way of maintaining some control in a world that seems uncontrollable. In essence, it is not the action that is "right" or "wrong", but rather the motivation behind such action.

In my opinion, tattling simply to see someone else get in trouble is something to be strongly discouraged.

[carolaa]

That's how I always thought of tattling, too. Thanks for sharing other possible reasons.

[Cosmin M.]

If you are a tattletale and you are in High School and maybe even Middle School, then you probably won't live long. Get my meaning?