Have you heard? Gossip can be good for you

Item: Which A-list celebrity is attempting to bed the most attractive starlet he has ever seen in an attempt to pass on his genetic material? Item: Who was going around the office last week sharing the story of ...

[Pooky]

Steve:
Contrary to your catchy title, "gossip" is not good for anyone, nor is it an acceptable pastime for honorable men or women. There is also a difference between gossip and news. For the purposes of a media definition, I would consider news to be the unbiased communication of facts or trends relating to and affecting our everyday lives. Gossip, on the other hand, speculates on the largely negative aspects of people's lives who have little or no legitimate impact on our own.

When I was growing up, "gossip" was a despicable pastime something akin to picking one's nose in public. Today, it is not only an acceptable activity, but it is promoted in pop culture as a staple of daily life while an entire industry has been built upon exploiting human character defects. A side effect has been the erosion of the credibility of legitimate journalism, as "gossip" has been added to the menu of virtually every "legitimate" news outlet.

The pastime of speculating endlessly about the lives of others (negative or positive) is not only toxic and a waste of time, but it also detracts from the pursuit of our own lives and focusing on issues that we can actually impact upon.

"Gossip" may be an unfortunate fact of life, but it is never good and should not be promoted as a positive or productive pursuit.
Call it what it is: a character defect.

[Right on Pooky]

Steering clear of the "bad karma network" is the best survival option (perhaps some simply need a better hobby).... privacy is where it is at and should be respected.

[Misty]

Gossip is never good. I live in a neighborhood where the chick next door spends the whole day sitting in a lawn chair on her drive .She has to see what is going on to report to the other gossipy neighbors. Also, the rules apply to everyone but them. I agree with Pooky it is a character fault!!!

[Pooky]

It is most unfortunate that mass media--including the Tribune--has jumped on this revenue stream that fuels negativity and toxicity in their audience.

As far as the quality of the column itself, its quite disjointed and directionless, similar to the practice itself.

[true]

I think it's a good idea to pay attention to what goes on around you. It's smart to be aware of your surroundings at all times.

[oldgraymare]

Misty wrote:

Gossip is never good. I live in a neighborhood where the chick next door spends the whole day sitting in a lawn chair on her drive .She has to see what is going on to report to the other gossipy neighbors. Also, the rules apply to everyone but them. I agree with Pooky it is a character fault!!!

There's one in every neighborhood, but if anything
happens someone will be around to call 911.

[Marley]

Gossip can be great in the right hands!
A Word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11

[Name]

Check out Tom Waits song "What's he building in there". Gossip = paranoia,
facts = facts, we all know the difference.

[Carol]

Marley wrote:

Gossip can be great in the right hands!
A Word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11

FYI

It said fitly spoken, not ragging behind someones back to someone else. That is the basest of human nature.

It means a good kind word to someone or about someone. We all know gossip doesn't fit that description: innuendo, tale-bearing, and backstabbing, and little truth.

Since you quoted the Bible, I will give the answer in kind.

According to "man's tradition" the 7 Deadly Sins are Pride, Lust, Anger, Covetousness, Envy, Sloth,
Gluttony.

According to the Bible, the 7 things the Lord HATES are:
Proverbs 6:16-19:

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,

and these 2 gems:
- "a false witness who pours out lies
- and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

Those last 2 target gossip and tongue wagging.

The first just above targets gossip, the last one, states the result of gossip which is division. And it is said He HATES this behavior and calls it sin.

But you can call it whatever you like and continue as you please.

[bullcrap radar]

This article is seriously a bunch of crap. I wonder what other horrible behavior you can rationalize?

[guest]

and this is why i left illinois!!!!! lol