Chymee – Thanks for your comments. The punishment for Lashon Hara is in fact – social isolation, so perhaps that is what is really going on.
Unfortunately, Shmiras Halashon is not so simple. There are times when we are REQUIRED to say something nasty. For instance, reporting a minyan to the New York police department is a mitzvah as Rabbi Hoffman poskened. In order to know what we are supposed to say, who we are supposed to say it to, and when we are supposed to say it, we need to learn the laws of Shmiras Halashon – and try to follow them.
Sometimes when I learn those halachos, all I can do is feel bad about not being able to live up to what I’m supposed to do. The Chofetz Chaim says that just having that feeling is very valuable and is worth the effort even if you can’t actually keep the halachos. Like any habit, it takes patience and perseverance to change.
Good Luck and Stay Healthy – physically and spiritually!
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