"Unless you're from Western Pennsylvania or are fluent in Pittsburghese, you're probably not familiar with the word 'nebby.' Although it has distant British roots, the word is found most often today in the Pittsburgh lexicon. It's a very useful adjective that one dictionary defines as being 'nosy, snoopy or inquisitive.' There are some nouns that derive from the word nebby but since this is a family-friendly newspaper, I can't repeat them here. Pittsburghers will know what I mean.
"On one hand, being nebby is a normal human activity. I guess we all want to know what's going on, and what the real story is. We're curious to find out the details; what happened, how did people react, who said what to whom.
"But being nebby quickly crosses the line into unhealthy, unholy gossip. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence
(RI), reflected on how good communication and transparency are positive values to be sought
and practiced, but trafficking in rumors and gossip is
contrary to the Gospel.
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
The Imitation of Christ: Don't Be So Nebby (22 APR 21)
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