I am very familiar with the way gossip works in isolated communities... and of the horrendous damage it can and does to, often to people who don't deserve it. And the thing about gossip is that, as often as not, there is no truth to it whatever. One can say about Obama, "the gossip in Hawaii is that his schooling was paid for by his step father". One cannot say "Obama's schooling was paid for by his step father". At least one can't say that and know that it is the truth.