WHERE THERE IS SMOKE, THERE IS FIRE?

We have all heard the familiar saying "Where there is smoke---there is fire." I've come to realize that the smoke is actually gossip. Usually the one with the smoke (gossiper), is the one who also has the fire. The gossiper uses illusions, allusions,  mirrors, & convincing statements to lead us to believe the smoke & fire is referring to the one whom is being gossiped about. Don't be fooled. Psychology teaches us another terminology--projection. Projection is the attribution of one's own ideas, feelings, or attitudes to other people or to objects; especially : the externalization of blame, guilt, or responsibility as a defense against anxiety ( Webster Online Dictionary) . In other words, when a person does, says, or thinks something, usually negative; this person places the blame on someone else. In the case of a gossip, they are saying that an innocent person is guilty. When actually, the gossiper is guilty of the action. There is an old wives saying, "Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear." This is the philosophy by which I live.