Avoiding slander as a way of life

Does the Rabbi think that the Chofetz Chaim's rulings on the issue of slander are the rule of law or is he being strict and there is room for leniency?
It seems that there is almost no way to live normally and in harmony with others while observing all the details of the halakhah on the subject. This is also how I am impressed by the leadership of those around me, including Jews who are strict about halakhah in other matters.
 
(The most that Chafetz Chaim wrote was that he did not make it any stricter and even 'censored' things so as not to alarm the public.)