If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, sit next to me!
I play card games and tile games three time a week with two groups of women and one group of men. All the people in the groups are very nice and upstanding in the community.
All groups gossip and enjoy it immensely. I have researched the subject of gossip to find out why it is so popular. Is it always so evil?
I love gossip! It makes me feel good and happy; yet I would never hurt another person and would not want to be hurt myself. I found some very interesting facts about gossip and I am glad I can share them.
First of all, there are two kinds of gossip. Idle chatter is where people gossip to each other about their vacation or gardening, etc. The second type is Malicious gossip where you talk about your neighbor’s affair or a person’s struggle with money, etc.
Gossip has been around since the beginning of time. There are many stories in the Bible about gossip. The news is full of gossip every day.
Behavioral scientists say that a positive statement will be told to three other people. A negative statement will be told to fifteen other people and repeated the same amount.
I figured this out in my early years. I told the biggest gossiper in my high school that I had a double D bra size. I was asked out at least four times a week by boys who wouldn’t have even looked at me before the word had spread!
Disgusting, I know. Interesting, yes.
Gossip is medicinal. Scientists discovered that endorphins are released into our blood streams while we listen or tell gossip. Gossipers are popular. People like to be around them because it makes them feel good.
So, the next time you want to share a juicy bit of gossip, is it idle chatter or is it malicious? No matter, sit next to me!
