I think it was the English writer Samuel Johnson who said there is nothing "sweeter than tea and gossip in the afternoon".

Gossip must serve some evolutionary purpose. But its cousins, rumor, innuendo, and slander are not very sweet. harmless gossip is just that, harmless. It might even be a form of flattery (or envy?).

Many 18th century European books were full of gossip like "Dangerous Liasons". That book was a favorite read of Thomas Jefferson when he was in Paris. Everyone believed the author was talking about actual people. The game was to figure out who the author was talking about.

I can imagine that the people new to this forum must think LaDonna and I are having some fun that no one but Spinner has caught on to.......I guess it would be the object of gossip in another venue.

I prefer my gossip with decaf coffee in the morning.

Hi LaDonna! Thanks for all the fun comments yesterday. I'll do my best to behave today (well, maybe.......Ha!Ha!)

Gossip may be the offspring of curiosity, but I think that there are more constructive and less harmful ways of scratching that particular itch.

Gossip may be very therapeutic for the gossiper, but that, I’m afraid, usually comes at the expense of another. Gossip, I’m sure (well not really sure, probably doubtful at best) may begin with the best of intentions, but if the consequences eventually cause pain and embarrassment to it’s original target, not to mention any innocent bystanders that may also be affected; then I think “good intentions” do not carry the day.

Besides, who wants to bear the title “gossip monger”. It sure won’t beef up a resume, and I certainly would not want that etched on my gravestone either.

I say we gossip less, especially amongst ourselves in this forum, . . . particularly on those days when I’m not around.

To: South-Side John:

You'll find this interesting........the word "monger" means "a dealer in a specific commodity" or "a person pitching something undesirable or discreditable". Or a "peddler".

So the word can be used for an ironmonger, a fishmonger, scandalmonger, or warmonger.

It comes from the latin for "dealer in slaves": mango.

We should probably use it now for "stockmonger". I guess that makes me a "foreclosuremonger".

I've been reading these pieces for a while and they're always thought provoking. Now
that I know gossip is good for me, I'm going to put it in the same category as
green tea, organic produce and Yoga. Thanks for enlightening me.

I'm currently living in a small town that is like a petri dish for gossip. Grapevine information spreads like wildfire here, especially the juicy stufff. Much of it is entirely accurate, not necessarily negative, and can be helpful to know in many situations.

Even in a town full of gossips, certain egregious individuals stand out as "mongers" who take pleasure in relaying the negative--definitely not a good reputation to have.

I admit it ~ I LOVE to GOSSIP ~ Maybe that's why I always seem to always be aksed questions about everything.

Not because I KNOW everything becuase I just know the Gossip of everything.

Now that it's been proven to be healthy for me I'm with Dutchman in catagorizing it.

I really do think it depends what your motive for the Gossip is.

I happen to work at a local TV station ~ The motives for "Gossip" here tend to be use dmore for gaining the upper hand in getting the local advertisers money on our station rather than a competitors or it happens to be about this seasons TV shows & other entertainment type Gossip.

People need to concentrate less on gossip and more on their personal privacy. It is amazing how much personal information people give out about themselves. People leave bills and paperwork on the seat of their car, people leave photos of their family members on their desk, people wear t-shirts with their favorite political topics emblazoned for all to see. Bumper stickers, coffee mugs, pens with logos... we allow ourselves to be followed by a constellation of objects that are seemingly harmless when viewed individually, yet taken as a whole they impart much more information about ourselves than we realize. Any hacker knows the weakest link in the computer system is the USER. Just walk up to the back door of any company, find where the smokers hang out, and hang out with them. People love to talk about themselves, and will tell you all sorts of information about their company, their products and their policies. Anyone who has a problem with gossip needs to get a grip on their own loose lips.

Gossip. Hmmm. Alot like gin, I think. A natural by-product, mixes well in various "concoctions". Somewhat addictive.

And if you do it too much you go flat-out crazy.

Been there, done that on both accounts.

To: ExPat;

Thanks for the follow up on the meaning and origin of the word "monger". I still think it lacks the desired "curb appeal" to be printed on a business card.

Be well
SSJ

To Nordo:
You're right--and some of the best gossip happens over a little gin.

Having moved from a small town to the big city a few years ago, I can tell you that it is definitely NOT fun being on the other side of the small town gossip. My husband and I have no idea exactly what was being said but we had people actually crossing the street to avoid us. It was very isolating and humiliating. So I am now quite sensitive to gossip and try to put a stop to it when it seems that the tales are getting a bit too "juicy" and people are reveling in the misfortune of others. I try to stop it with a little "...how would you feel.." sort of thing.

BUT on the other hand, a little harmless he-said-she-said can be fun. Although, I must say, I am getting a bit weary of Brittney Spears and Angelina Joli.

Having moved from a small town to the big city a few years ago, I can tell you that it is definitely NOT fun being on the other side of the small town gossip. My husband and I have no idea exactly what was being said but we had people actually crossing the street to avoid us. It was very isolating and humiliating. So I am now quite sensitive to gossip and try to put a stop to it when it seems that the tales are getting a bit too "juicy" and people are reveling in the misfortune of others. I try to stop it with a little "...how would you feel.." sort of thing.

BUT on the other hand, a little harmless he-said-she-said can be fun. Although, I must say, I am getting a bit weary of Brittney Spears and Angelina Joli.

What happened!? Why did it repeat? Any gossip about my techy ineptitude?

While I’m not one to gossip, I will say that La Donna and ExPat were seen exchanging smiley faces and LOLs during yesterday’s discussion. My spies also tell me that La Donna was quoted as typing “We're certainly together in this journey! It's fun to mis-behave.......in fact it's "great" to mis-behave!” Could this “mis-behaving” twosome be headed for something more than mere blog post commentary? Is instant messaging too far behind?

But like I said, I’m not one to gossip. I'm just saying. (wink)

AHA!! Keep me up with what you hear, 666.

AGENT666.....Spinner does NOT need your help!!!!! And...by the way, where are you getting this information!?! ; )

An unimpeachable source! No doubt.

Unimpeachable source, indeed! I don't reveal my sources, La Donna. Besides, typing that made me feel better about myself.

Hi there, In response to rings90 who works in TV and loves to gossip, I've definitely noticed that my most "gossipy" friends work in media or news professions. I see the gossip as a way of collecting information. It is extreme inquisitiveness more than rumor mongering.

Gossip clearly has a dark side, but I happen to think other people are the most interesting thing to talk about! What else is there....the weather?

To jmr:

Yes, gossip clearly has a dark side, just ask Agent666 and Spinner!

TO: South-Side John,

I'll try to work on the "curb appeal" part this weekend. Thanks!

To: Agent666,

"No comment": or as we used to say in the military, when confronted with our sins: "I have no independent recollection of that"

To: LaDonna,

Hey, this all started after I said "welcome back". Interesting isn't it how a small truth can, in the embrace of gossip, become an untruth or a lie. What I do find quite fascinating is the fact that people on this site read everything very carefully. How often do you run into that in everyday life?

To: Agent666,

I second the "No comment"!

To: ExPat,

This is a great place, for some good reading (even if it is about us)!

To ExPat:

Are you using the old adage, "If I don't remember it, it never happened"?

I think it was Oscar Wilde who said, "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." But I can definitely empathize with Spinner in being the brunt of small town gossip. Sinclair Lewis made his reputation on it.

I think it was Chris Rock who on one of his HBO specials said something to the effect "if you've got nothing to say about yourself, you should go and get yourself kidnapped so you have a story to tell".

To: Spinner,

Yes, I was using that old adage.......it reminds me of another old saying that "if you remember the 1960's you weren't there". I have a problem with that one because I was there, and I remember it all too well. (Ha!Ha!)

To: LaDonna,

At least we're worth reading about........who would of guessed we'd be an item of gossip in cyberspace?

What's really cool about this site is that we can evaluate each other based on our words and not on appearances that so often get in the way of the words. I respect everyone who comments. And we don't really know who they are except for a few hints here and there: a teacher, an artist, a doctor, a real estate broker, perhaps a musician.Someone could be a millionaire entrepreneur or the head of some country....we'll never know.

I'm flattered to be the object of "gossip" by so many intelligent people.

LaDonna, have a wonderful weekend..................be creative and enjoy an extra cuo of coffee. (I feel more gossip on the way!)

ExPat,
The same for you!

Gossip is the one way that one person can talk to another and know that the other is not tearfully bored. It is absolutely necessary for the world to turn round (I think, however, that someone has said that before) for if we didn't talk of other people and their goings-on, what would we talk about? Like jmr said, the weather? There's only two sorts - hot and cold - and the shades in between are just so subtle you actually have to think to discuss them. Gossip is the ultimate small talk. About people one knows, to people one knows; and it really doesn't require knowing anything. Just listening. It's the most wonderful thing to pick up in... well, unsavoury company. That is, among annoyingly bourgeois comrades, we hear a phrase here, a secret there... and our amateur espionage lands us with a rather smart point in conversation. What's to condemn?

(I'm sure there is something to condemn, but I haven't the inclination to discuss it. Besides, it would entirely disrupt my rationale.)

This just in: ExPat used the word "embrace" in a post to LaDonna. Later, he can be quoted with the phrase "who would of guessed we'd be an item" there in black and white for everyone to see.

Also, the gossip on the hill is that Agent 666's unimpeachable source is about to be impeached.

This has all the potential of being bigger than Payton Place! Wicked!

What fun...

Dutchman, that quote from Oscar Wilde is my favourite quote. I hold it to be true.

To: DreadPirateRoberts,

The conversation we started about gossip quickly turned into gossip.

It's human nature............and I'm having fun at me own expense. I trust my cyberspace friend, LaDonna, is having fun also.

"say good night Gracie".....

Good night, Gracie.