If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all...
Posted on 25th November 2020 at 07:14
It’s often said that a little gossip helps the world go round. Whether at home, work or within the family; talking about other people seems to be one of our favourite pastimes. And it’s not just about people we know – or know of – but also those in the public eye, even though we’ve never met them and are unlikely to do so.
Regardless of who we’re talking about, there seems to be something irresistible about unearthing another person’s secrets. Even better, if we’re the first one to do so and pass them on, particularly if they’re less than positive. If not downright malicious, perhaps, driven by the green eyed monster…
Increasingly, it’s fuelled by social media which, sadly, encourages knee jerk reactions. The repeating of information without stopping for a moment to consider its accuracy, let alone the ramifications for the person concerned. Or ourselves. And aided in no small part by our old friend, peer pressure. More about this in a moment.
So, why do we gossip and can it really be a positive thing as some Psychologists suggest?