I WOULD like to add a few comments to the excellent poem "Last Breath" by Doreen Rostron (Letters, October 6), about the effects of gossip.

Tittle-tattle can be quite harmless but unfortunately it can become malicious, vindictive, spiteful, vengeful, distorting everything that is said.

Gossip is often used by a bully to make the victim feel bad through destroying their confidence and self-esteem. The person targeted is usually someone prone to feeling guilty, naive, perceived to be different, a loner with poor social skills and therefore is an easy target for gossips, also in the age of easy communication the gossip can soon spread. The consequences for the target or victim can be devastating and can lead to depression, stress, anxiety, psychiatric brain injury, ill-health, angina, heart attack, suicide or at least shorten the life of the victim.

The gossip will probably not represent the true facts. Therefore try not to judge a person by gossip you hear about them; only God can judge.

NORMAN PRESTON, Carrington Avenue, Blackburn.