Word: gossipers
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...realize that I can inadvertently be a propagator of gossip. My typical tidbits usually take the form of repeating an observation: "Did you see that person?" or "Can you believe what that girl just said to that guy?" Does this make me rude or unfeeling? Am I confirming the stereotype of a California girl, complete with Valley accent and inflection that makes every sentence sound like a question? I hope not, and upon reflection, I think...
After my experience in the House library, I went back to see where I had "gone wrong." Eventually I came to the conclusion that there should be rules and protocol regulating gossip...
...wrong--I'm not advocating spreading rumors that are hurtful or mean. In general, the gossip I spread is governed by the gossip I want to hear. I'd rather not hear the bad news. For example, if someone has done poorly academically or has been summoned by the Ad Board, I'd rather not know and certainlywouldn't pass it on. Your latest date, however,might be fair game...
People everywhere like to talk and to talkabout other people. Since we all instinctivelylike gossip, maybe gossip isn't so bad. Or maybethe term gossip should be reserved for the kind ofrumors that hurt people...
That's what I call tacit consent. If peopleknow who you talk to and are comfortable with youdiscussing the situation with others, "gossip" isokay-as long as you are not operating under acondition of asymmetric information (an economicsituation in which one party has more informationabout a product than another...