Why is it that after people are done talking shit, or in the midst of it, they turn around and check if the person they are talking about is there? Isn't that something you should do before you say anything? But I guess that’s better than not checking at all.
Once, when I was a young fool in high school I was caught gossiping. I've since learned my lesson. There were rumors about some girl in my school, whom we shall call "Christy". Well Christy was rumored to be a "big whoring slut" (whatever that is supposed to mean). She had left school for a year and was starting again that year. Now, I had never met, let alone seen her, or knew anything about her reputation besides what I had heard. I don't know what possessed me but I saw one of my friends standing with some girl, and I walked up to them and said, "Hey did you hear that big slut Christy was back?" My friend said "Isi meet Christy." Christy said "Open mouth, insert foot." I was traumatized.
Lesson: Never talk shit unless the surrounding area is clear.