Ab ore ad aurem: la comunicazione senza misericordia

This essay discusses, in the sociological, psychological, literary and theological perspective, the human attitude contrary to the mercy manifested in gossip, rumor and slander. These verbal acts have considerable persuasive ability and perlocutory force capable of realizing concrete effects on people, on the meaning of events and on the perception of reality. It is a social phenomenon that can be seen from the very beginning of humanity and it finds first in the tittle-tattle, then in gossip newspapers and recently in social networks its mode of expression. The essay also reflects on the dangers of reckless use of these communicative practices with references to recent tragic events and the admonishments of the Holy Scriptures and the Pontiffs, so that the dignity of the human person is always respected and protected.