Tracking Device

Gossip,  

At what point does two people having a conversation turn into idle gossip. I just know there are plenty of us that are guilty of it. I have done my share of passing along information that I am not in the slightest knowing of its truthfulness, but fortunately for my neighbors the older I get the less I involve myself in their personal world.

This morning I was trying to make that distinction. So since I’m out to solve everything else, why not.

First off, the gossiping I do with my wife, is fun, counter productive, sometimes mean, most always sarcastic , purely speculative and private. She won’t pass it on, because I just got too much on her. Now, I would like to back up and say I’m sure things my spouse has told me, in confidence, I’ve passed faster than a bad apple. Sometimes I should have kept my mouth shut, no class. But passing information that is untruthful, I think most people would agree that is undeniably over the line, done!!!!!!

I suppose the safest way to not gossip, is don’t talk about other people. That would be simple if our world was not affected by those whose names we use. Interaction with others is a necessary thing, so can we all agree that, in our conversations the need to refer to a third party is essential, done!!!!!!!

How about a newspapers police blotter. Some poor shmuck, gets a DUI, and they print it. Worse yet, some spouse calls the cops when they are having one of those times that many of us have. And our local objective newspaper, prints it. Neither news report is beneficial for the perps or anyone else. Except those of us who like to read gossip and those that make money selling papers.

So maybe its a matter of what is said about the absent third party, that turns it into gossip. What if Joe Blow told me he knew the mayor was having an affair with the mail man, the first words out of my mouth would be, with who,, when where,w,w,w,w?????. The last thing would be to politely say, we shouldn’t discuss other peoples personal lives. Screw that, give me the details, I’m interested.

However, its not always for the wrong reasons. There is an important point that needs to be made. Once I have received this information, I become responsible. Joe Blow possibly already blew it, who knows. If the information is true, good for the Mayor or bad for the Mayor.

If the information is not true, bad for the Mayor’s friend, the Mayor, and its and thems,families,

If the information is not true, bad for the Mayor’s friend, the Mayor, and its and thems, families.

So the next time you decide to pass information along, remember a reasonable person accepts the risks involved, though they will be very upset by your discussing their lives. But better to remember, how any person feels when they did not have , let alone enjoy, the indiscretion.

So think about this, sometimes gossip goes further than if you had put it in your newspaper, with your name attached. And if you were wrong would your conscience have you stand up and say, whoops I made a mistake, sorry.

Think About That .com

Bo Bennett

Newspapers and Magazines better get on the stick. Soon the only readership will be those involved in the print. cause this socioecological info-food chain is breaking down, unless you live by your own rules Of course that would require a moratorium on profits while the mood shifts.