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Thoughtless Comments and Slander Subscribe McClune v. Neitzel, 235 Neb. 754, 457 N.W.2d 803 (1990), provides an example of how thoughtless comments can become slander. Robert Mccune was a single, 27- year-old man, who grew up in Springfield, Nebraska (population: 800). He worked in neighboring Gretna with his brother, selling lawn sprinkler systems and managing the installation crews. Mccune's mother, Betty Holz, was a home health aide. One of Holz's coworkers was Patricia Dieleman. Lois Keyes was one of Dieleman's patients. On July 8, Keyes' daughter told Keyes and Rose Neitzel that a friend of Mccune's was dying of AIDS. That evening, as Dieleman was tending to Keyes, Keyes told Dieleman that she did not want Holz to care for her. When Dieleman asked why, Neitzel responded, "Didn't you know her son, Bobbie, has AIDS?" Mccune did not have AIDS. Dieleman reported Neitzel's remarks to a friend of hers and to Holz. Neitzel spoke of the conversation with Keyes' seven daughters, her own husband, her sister, her brother, and her four sons. When Mccune learned of Neitzel's statement, he began to avoid Springfield, where he had previously visited his mother and friends at least twice a week. He avoided some family gatherings. A Springfield resident confronted him regarding AIDS. His work deteriorated dramatically. He had problems with the workers he supervised because of the rumor. He began to drink continuously, and sought professional counseling and attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Near the end of July, Mccune's brother informed him that the installation crews had lost respect for him due to the rumors and that he had to resign or be fired. Mccune resigned and left the Springfield area. He suffered from headaches and sleeplessness, was lethargic, and gained weight. He found a new job in lowa, to begin nine months later, doing the same type of work that he had done with his brother. Mccune filed a petition, alleging that Neitzel had falsely accused him of having AIDS. After trial, the jury returned a verdict in Mccune's favor for $25,350. How often do you check the facts of things before you gossip, post things, or forward things about your friends and other people