So this is a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately. Gossiping.. how do you know when your just talking about a friend with another friend or when you are gossiping. So I looked up the definition-
gossip-idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others:
this definition is very confusing to me personally. I know there have been times in my life where I am glad that someone has called me and told me something personal about someone that I knew because I was able to be more sensitive and even helpful and had I not known maybe I would have had a different response to certain situations. I also think there are times and places where I guess "gossip" is good. I know there have been times in my life where things have happened and I was happy that it got passed through the telephone changes so that I did not have to relive the conversation over and over again. So what is the right thing to do. Never talk about anyone you know.. Is it ok as long as it is not mean spirited? Where and how do you draw the line. I can admit that sometimes I am as bad as the next person about wanting to know what is going on in someones life. However in my head I guess I don't always feel as if I am being nosey, just curious about that person and their life. You know sometimes if you don't know a person that well, you ask a friend " Do you know anything about them?" Is the conversation that follows considered gossip. Sometimes you just ask how someone is that you have not seen in a while and then you end up hearing all about them and what they have been up to... Isn't part of that just what being friends and having friends is all about. We ask about each other and are curious about what is going on in each others life. I am very interested to know what people think about this. I would say leave me a comment but when I ask that very few people do.. So if you would like you can if not just know that this is something that I have been thinking about ... mainly last night when I could not sleep. =)
4 comments:
I have wondered about this many times. When you find the answer, let me know. :) Maybe you don't get comments because we all have the same questions. We're all clueless together. haha.
Personally, when I think of gossip, I think of exchanges that are negative and hurtful. However, I remember when my hubby was upset when people "gossiped" and told people we were expecting (his complaint based on the fact that he wanted to be the one to do the telling and see people's faces). I also know that I tend to be more "private" than other people, and could perhaps be upset about sharing of information that others would find "normal".
The fact that you are concerned about this topic tells me that your heart is in the right place. Did you know there is a lesson about gossip in the FHE manual? Might be a good resource to check out.
I too have always thought of true gossip as being in a mean spiritied kind of way. Or telling too much personal information ahout someone even if it isn't so mean just not appropriate. It can be confusing!
Where do you draw the line AND "How do you draw the line?" (especially if you are with someone and you don't want to gossip OR hurt "the gossiper's" feelings by saying so)... ya know what I mean? I guess that is my question...
I would agree with the comments about it being mean spirited, hurtful or derogatory in any way.
I've been in weird positions, recently and I could tell that others were uncomfortable as well, I just didn't know what to say.
I think that sometimes the "natural man" wants to know things, but we need to work on shoving the "need to know" out of our heads. I have that problem at times... I'll admit. I do understand what you are talking about.
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