Do you want to know a secret? Gossip is all fun and games - until it's about you.

The world of gossip is pretty glamorized from movies like "Mean Girls," to TV shows like "Gossip Girl" portraying pretty faces, dirty little secrets, jealousy and false friendships as a part of the game.

These programs, however, somehow miss the mark on reality. While we're all free to make choices, we can't choose the consequences. That is where these programs go wrong.

Gossip can be a form of hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying, menacing, and/or cyber-bullying, all punishable under McMinnville School District policy.

Let's go over some definitions. Under McMinnville School District policy, "Hazing" is defined as "...any act that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health or safety of a student," like forced consumption of drugs or drinks, alcoholic or not, as well as forced exposure to the elements, forced sleep deprivation, being forced to wear an obscene or burdensome article or being assigned pranks as a form of degradation, humiliation or initiation.

"Harassment" is defined under this same policy, "... but not limited to, any act which subjects an individual or group to unwanted, abusive behavior of a nonverbal, verbal, written or physical nature on the basis of age, race, religion, color, natural origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, physical characteristic, cultural background, socioeconomic status or geographic location."

"Intimidation or bullying" can be harming a student and/or their property, placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm, or "creating a hostile education environment."

            "Menacing" is any act that puts any person "...in fear of imminent serious physical injury."

            Some people think they can get away with gossip and harassment on the internet, even under a false identity. This, however, is cyber-bullying.

            Cyber-bullying, or internet harassment, "...means the use of any electronic devise to convey a message in any form (text, image, audio or video) that defames, intimidates, harasses or is otherwise intended to harm, insult or humiliate another in a deliberate, repeated or hostile and unwanted manner under a person's true or false identity. This includes any communication of this form that disrupts or prevents a safe and positive educational or working environment."

            We can't choose the consequences, even when we're in cyberspace.

            Any student found in violation of the McMinnville School District policy "Harassment of Staff/Students" "...will be subject to discipline, up to and including expulsion." We can even have our driving privileges suspended if we are found in violation of this policy at least two times. These consequences don't even include the legal consequences that can pursue depending on the seriousness of the harassment or rumors, real or not.

            The world we live in isn't a TV show. None of those programs will show you the bitterness, disappointment, loss of trust, anger, hatred, depression and even suicide that can result from our words and actions.

            If you feel like you've been harassed or cyber-bullied and can't take care of the situation on your own, your parents, guidance counselors, teachers and coaches may be able to help you.

            If you've harassed or cyber-bullied anyone, it's never too late to say sorry.

            If you've witnessed harassment or cyber-bullying, stand up for what's right, whether the gossip is true or not. Don't sit back and enjoy the show because it's not a show. This is real life.

            Treat others the way you would like to be treated.