So, How Was The Shiur?

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Lashon Hara question: A friend goes to a shiur and you want to know how it was, is it permitted to ask? The problem is that it is really asking for lashon hara because an answer such as "lousy" or "boring" would constitute lashon hara. The Rambam rules that any speech that would cause the subject to feel pain constitutes lashon hara. Saying someone's shiur is boring would definitely cause the person pain if he hears about it.

It would seem then that one should avoid such a question. If one wants to know about the shiur and the person asked is careful about lashon hara then maybe one should ask "What did you learn in the shiur?"

If asked about a really boring shiur I think it is permitted to respond "It didn't resonate with me." I don't believe that it is lashon hara to say that you didn't connect to it. Also, if you disagreed with what was said it is permitted to repeat what was said together with your differing approach [stated respectfully].

I am just thinking out loud and this all requires more thought and research.

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