if two people are having a private conversation, and say something negative?

Question

Isn't that between them? What they say in private is their own business, right? As long as they're not planning to do something against the law. RIGHT? Can you hold it against them?

Answer 1

Legally you are correct. However, it's clear that you are gossiping, which is total disrespect for the other person. Gossiping, by the way, is talking about someone else without their knowledge. I'll bet more people gossip than want to admit!

Answer 2

Well i think that if it is private then only those people would be able to hear the conversation. But if your talking about a conversation between two people and one hold it against you then it is there right to do so. No one can hand someone over a huge baggage and expect them to carry on if they don't want to do that. No one really knows how some one is going to react to something negative. Some times a single word can be a deal breaker. So we have to travel threw our time here on earth not hurting or belittling anyone.

Answer 3

In terms of publishing (eg: filming a news article in public and broadcasting it), anything that happens in public is public property. I guess the same can be said, on a smaller scale, for a conversation. If they don't want to be overheard they should have the conversation in private.

If you overheard the conversation and the negative comment affected you or someone close to you, you could then either choose to ignore it, or say "I'm sorry, but I did happen to overhear when you said ... and I feel that ... ". (Eg: "I feel that you're not completely right because ..." or "I am hurt that you feel that way about...."). If the comment wasn't relevant to you though, ignore it - it's not your business.

If you were part of the conversation you do need to consider it from the other point of view. It would be reasonable for someone who overheard to use my above suggestions, and it would be reasonable to expect that someone would hear your conversation if you were not alone at the time.

It would not be unexpected that they would hold your opinions against you, if they overheard your negative comments about them. You would probably do the same - if you heard me gossiping about your private life, you would be offended and would probably treat me differently in future.

If the conversation was completely private, there would not be a problem. Just be careful what you say, where and to whom.

Answer 4

You shouldn't be able to cuz that's invading their privacy. You know they weren't talking to you. Just because someones privacy has been compromised, doesn't give a person the right to focus on eavesdropping. You know they are not talking to you. People in houses say alot of things & no one can hear them. People pop off in their houses about the president & everyone else. That's why alot of senators etc got really upset & called it unconstitutional about the wire-tapping thing as they don't want anyone wire tapping their private conversations & holding it against them. Cuz if you were able to eavesdrop on the president & all of his confidential conversations someone would definitely be able to have something against him. People talk & people talk about people & people don't always talk nice. That's their privacy & business. That's why invading someone's privacy is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!!!
Depending on where you live, too. Say if you live in apartments that haven't the proper amount of insulation between the walls and anything above a whisper can be heard is not fair. I was standing in my kitchen cooking & the people next door in their kitchen were standing towards the same wall & I heard them clearly in a normal conversational voice. SO UNFAIR!!!
If privacy has been compromised I believe people should try hard to respect their privacy, not eavesdrop just because they are able not should or can.

Answer 5

It is wrong to eavesdrop on someone else's conversation, if that is your question. If your question is "is it okay to say something negative about someone(or thing) in a private conversation?" You have the right to free speech (to the extent it is not vulgar or offensive to others), however, if you say something negative to 1 person, expect that 10 more will hear it.

The key thing to remember when in public is that you treat others with the respect you wish to be treated. If you don't want your conversations listened to, don't listen to others. If you don't want someone passing gossip or speaking negatively of you, than don't speak negatively of anyone else, and don't gossip. If you have accidentally overheard a negative remark, keep it to yourself.

The best way to be safe from letting your words bite you later: "If you cannot think of anything appropriate to say you will please restrict your remarks to the weather." ~~~ Jane Austen (Sense & Sensibility)

Answer 6

I guess it would depend on how loud their conversation was. Had they been talking very loudly and used a negative word toward a certain group of people, then it would become everyone around thems conversation.

Had they been talking softly and the person next to them was eavesdropping then no it could not be held against them cause it was suppose to not be hear by anyone.

Answer 7

Hmm thats a tricky one. i can comprehend him chatting with possibly a number of his closest pals or family participants, yet no longer all people! i'm comparable to you - i'd be mortified if i assumed my bf became into discussing each little thing with everybody! in case you have spoken to him and he nevertheless maintains to do it i'd see that as a loss of admire. communicate over with him gently and clarify which you dont like it and why. If he tells all people then sell off him. He discusses it with people who consider him to help his own view and teach that he's right. he's clearly no longer in a position to be in the incorrect or settle for somebody elses diverse view. this would possibly deliver approximately massive issues later esp with a infant.

Answer 8

If the 2 people are unknown to you then you disagree with their 'negative', in your own mind, and let it go.. [depends on circumstances, if they're discussing a bomb going off under your seat in 10 seconds then that clearly dictates what you do!] If you know them then you have the choice whether ot not to confront them with your 'positive'

Answer 9

It's kind of a confusing question and if you could expound on it more, maybe it would be easier to answer. But I know there have been times when I have needed to speak to a trusted friend to just "vent" about something or someone. But understand, if you don't ever want a secret told.....TELL NO ONE!

Answer 10

One of the two will most likely repeat it to someone else.