A few weeks ago I saw a post that [I thought] clarified and provided a great illustration of gossip and how it effects and hurts all those involved. . . (I do not know who wrote this illustration in order to give them credit.)
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               Once upon a time, an old man spread rumors that his neighbor was a thief. As a result, the young man was arrested. Days later the young man was proven innocent. After being released he sued the old man for wrongly accusing him.
               In court the old man told the judge: "They were just comments, didn't harm anyone."
               The judge, before passing sentence on the case, told the old man: "Write all the things you said about him in apiece of paper. Cut them up and on the way home, throw the pieces of paper out. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence."
                 The next day, the judge told the old man: "Before receiving sentence, you will have to go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you through out yesterday."
                  The old man said: "I can't do that! The wind spread them and I won't know where to find them."
                  The judge replied: "The same way, simple comments may destroy the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it. If you can't speak well of someone, rather don't say anything. Let's all be masters of our mouths, so that we won't be slaves of our words."
                   Gossips are worse than thieves because they steal another person's dignity, honor, reputation and credibility which are impossible to restore. So remember this: when your feet slip, you can always recover your balance; but when your tongue slips, you cannot recover your words.
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I think this story explains how it is impossible to correct and overcome gossip. I have felt the effects of gossip. It was [and still is] devastating. Organizations, businesses, and groups [even churches] can feel the effects of gossip. Gossip also destroys a persons character, any positive influence, their authority, and others approval.
I've noticed that [for the most part] people have difficulty in discerning what is and is not gossip. To put it plainly, if it is your opinion, or your thought, or your interpretation, or how you feel; it's gossip! If it is "fact", with proof; not hearsay, as in a court of law; it is not gossip. I also think that anything said with malicious intent, even if it is a fact is also gossip.

Perhaps another would have a better way to explain what is or isn't gossip. But for me this is my rule of thumb. And I might add, if you are not sure if it's gossip. . . don't say it!
Love to have feed back on this!