SOURCES

Some opportunities are seem promising--could even be life-changing--but there's a catch. You'll be required to abandon a friend. Everything about you that will aid in you being an asset to the person or organization is fine, except your association with a person or group. What would people think of THIS if you become a part of it while maintaining your close affiliation with THAT? You have to wonder if it's a test of your integrity, loyalty, or ambition. If you have to let go of one thing in order to meet the standards of another, is it worth it? You have to decide, "What's more important? A friend or an opportunity?"
If someone has an issue with, or prejudice against a friend of yours, don't let them use you to perpetuate it. Your association with one person may very well be problematic for another person--but unless the other person is God, sometimes you just have to conclude, "That's THEIR problem", and continue enjoying your relationship.
If a person has proven to be a friend, don't let the opinions of anyone else cause you to forsake them. If you're going to end a friendship, or dissolve a business partnership, let it be your decision, made in your own time, based upon your own experience, and at your discretion.
By the way, if you want to know something about a person, don't be a coward. Ask them--don't interrogate their friends. Ask yourself what you want with the information and what you plan to do with it. When and if you get a reasonable, rational answer, other than sheer nosiness, ask yourself if you might need to talk to someone about your obsession with other people's business.

Don't let ignorance or laziness be an excuse for being in the dark--especially when you have access to the same resources as others do. If you want accurate information, go to the right source. The person you THINK might know, may be equally or more clueless than you are--they might even have a knack for stretching the truth, or editing out important details. Want to know? Go to the source.