Trash Talking...

If nothing was false, you had nothing to stick up for. I don't know if talking trash has anything to do with competition or empowerment, but I do know it sometimes has a cheap thrill effect.

People use trash talking as a way to pet their egos. When we talk down or belittle peopl eit is often because we think that we are superior to them in some way. Now if those guys had a legitamate beef with your buddy because he screwed something up then they can chastise him a bit, but that still doesn't get the job done. If they go too far then sure stick up for your buddy and let them know that if they would spend half the time working that they do putting people down then a whole lot more would get done. Sometimes trash talking is fun though, like when I tell everyone that my team is going to whoop thier teams butt this week, that sort of good natured ribbing is ok in my book until it becomes personal. Then it is immature and shows lack of respect. As long as the trash talking doens't become personal then I see no big problem with it.

well, if i were the one in your shoes, i'm sure i'd defend my friend but not in the same way. i'll be telling those people they may be right but trash talking like that wouldn't help the person at all so they better stop it. then i'd talk to my friend (but not mention about those trashtalkers) and tell him, like it's all coming from me, in a way i know would be effective with him, how he should change some things for his own sake and benefit. then help him make the changes. i'm glad i got a mylot friend who got such kind of loyalty to his friend. i just wonder if you'd stand up for me like that too, lol!

We need to acknowledge some of our incompetence to improve on them, You could have bat in in defence for your friend but not necessarily telling lies, It is also so natural to stand up for friends because there is a saying that goes like "tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are". So if you are a true friend find a way to give these feed backs to your friend and help him improve on his incompetence.

I admit I do trash talk also, not to belittle someone unless we joking on each other.. But at the workplace it's a no no, I work in a professional enviroment and a alot of older people that I've grown to respect and know they don't like to hear things of that sort. I commend you for sticking up for your friend, and yes trash talking can be fun. I believe even the ones who say that don't think it just don't say it outloud. Me on the other I will from watching football to something simple as just me and my friend cutting up.. Some people do take it overboard and take it real personal when they trash talk, I guess it's really the content and how serious this person is which would make a difference like in your case with stickin up for your friend...

To me, there's maybe having not-so-nice thoughts about a person that might be the downright truth, I think that's just natural human behavior, but then there's ragging on the person behind their back to others. It's both tactless and immature, especially in the work place. I think it's a good thing that you stuck up for him, since it sounds like they were being out of line and it's just wrong in general. Some people just can't help it. My ex-hubby is what you might consider slow and wasn't all that competent either, but that doesn't mean he was a bad person or deserved to be ragged on by others, because he's actually a good guy and hard-working when it comes down to it. I wouldn't call it lying, to yourself or the situation, but rather just being a decent human being. At least you were decent enough to bring up the good things about him and on a positive note. And yeah, sometimes it does feel good to put jerks in their place, nothing wrong with that either, and it certainly sounds like they deserved it.

That's unfortunate that trash talk is all around us. Everyone talks about people when they are not around. YOu are right, it is about elevating ourselves by pushing others down in what you say about them. I like trash talking though too. I guess it is a natural human thing. Although there are some people who don't talk ish on other people--but I don't know them!!!hahaha

because we feel bigger and better, but it does hurt when the tables r turned! i always tell myself wut a person don't know won't hurt them! and if they find out ur the one looking stupid! and u obviously weren't working too hard in not letting people know u were talking about them!

Hey, it was very sweet of you to stand up for your friend and point out some of the things that he does well! ^_^ I don't think that that is lying to yourself. No matter if what those people were saying had truth in it, there were good qualities to this guy and you were just standing up for him and letting them know that he does have his good points! *laugh* I think that it's really kind of you to have done so. I don't know what it is in human nature that causes some people to enjoy belittling others. I really don't enjoy it at all. It is so much more rewarding to bring joy into other people's lives, and I would much rather spend my time attemping to do so! ^_^