I read somewhere that people in early civilisations used gossip to position themselves higher in the social groups - knowing who does what contributed greatly to this.
What do you think about gossip? Do you participate in it? How often and why do you gossip, if you do?
Personally, I believe the sociological theory of ''othering'' applies to gossip very neatly - people usually look for weaknesses and negative traits in others, so that they could distance themselves from them.
By identifying other people as weak, irresponsible, sexually deviant and promiscuous, people hope to point away for what they don't want to be identified with - so in order to do so, they have to identify someone else as that.
Do you believe this applies? If not, why do you think gossip happens?
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
I personally don't like gossip much, it seems rather pointless to me, at least in our modern society. I don't need to know who slept with who and who was arrested for what when they were 17....it seems to me it is just cheap entertainment. Then again I might be wrong and it might have a valuable position in our Society...but I doubt it.
As perverse as it sounds, gossip can help induce social cohesion through sharing. However, it is usually derogatory in its reference to 'victims' of the gossiping, so I generally don't indulge. Unless it's something harmless like Bardock impregnating a walrus. Again.
__________________ Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
I don't like to judge others, but I know that gossip belongs to those people who are not very far spiritually evolved - they still live in the realm of animal-like instinct of selfish survival patternsa and not on the more mature beam of compassion for humanity.
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
Well, that might be true, you do share some "secrets" with each other which might strengthen the bonds between the participants. At least gossip is fair as in everyone gets gossiped about, even Floo, I still think people should rather go watch a movie though.
[Update for all of you who care] She'll get an abortion....after all I believe in it.
That's so funny that you started off with the "I don't like to judge others" disclaimer as if it neutralizes your subsequent generalisation.
Funny, funny, funny. Poo.
__________________ Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
I agree with Floo's assessment. In addition to the obvious result of self-betterment, it creates a bond with the gosipper and the gossippee that may not have existed beforehand.
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
The typical "I don't want to sound racist, but negros are just not the same level as humans, they are closer to animals"....always funny, funny, funny and poo indeed.
You mean like one would have the feeling of stabbing the other one in the eye - a feeling and a bond they have never felt beforehand.
But back on topic - noone actually adressed my questions.
I asked WHY people gossip, not what is the sagnificance of gossip. Im sure people who gossip don't necesseraly think ''I shall socially enrich myself by making up a story''?
...or maybe they do...strange world we live in.
__________________
في هذا العالم ثلاثة أشخاص أفسدوا البشرية : راعي غنم , طبيب و راكب الجمال , و راكب الجمال هو أسوأ نشال و أسوأ مشعوذ بين الثلاثة
Yeah..."I don't mean to insult you, but you're a f*cking dick who likes to suck the shit from the assholes of snails". You see? It's OK because I said "I don't mean to insult you...". Magic. Abroocadoobree.
People gossip to show they know stuff about other people. Social hierarchy in the here and now. Like you said.
__________________ Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Why do people gossip? They have too much time on their hands. They are empty inside themselves. They are egotistical and idiotic.
There's big money in gossip though - just look at the gossip magazines out there.
I would agree with that. The type of people that gossip, probably don't know all that much about the situation, but take as little information as they can, and make it into something much more interesting. This can also lead to rumors.
KMC Community Forums
Jun 22nd, 2006 01:23 PM
. Just like us South Africans over here. 
