We are currently in the beginning of the 2012 Mi Yodeya Moderator Election.
To what extent can one avail oneself of the exception of "to'elet"="for a purpose" to the standard rules of Lashon HaRa' (slander) in discussing different candidates' qualifications for being a community moderator?
Background: the exception of To'elet is best roughly illustrated by referring to the story of Gedaliah ben Achikam. A friend of Gedaliah named Yochanon ben Kereach warned him that Yishmael ben Netanya was coming to kill him but Gedaliah refused to listen because it was Lashon HaRa' and ended up being killed (Jeremiah 40:13-41:3). However, Gedaliah was mistaken and should have listened to Yochanon because the Lashon HaRa' was told with a To'elet: to save Gedaliah's life.
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