Gossip

[digital angel]

Gossip. What's your take on gossip? I can't be certain there's a beneficial purpose to it. Feel free to try to persuade me otherwise.

 

[Jah]

It seems probable that it could have an effect as a stress-reliever and bonding strategy.

Or perhaps as a way of strengthening in-group relation on behalf of out-group persons ?

 

[Trebuchet]

Or perhaps as a way of strengthening in-group relation on behalf of out-group persons ?

Definitely this.

I have twice made terrible enemies at work, one man and one woman, in two different jobs, when I told them I wasn't interested in gossip. I am still not sure why they thought I might want to hear about someone else's affairs, but I think they wanted to enjoy sharing some condemnation of someone else, and maybe feeling superior to them.

They were horribly offended, both that I rebuffed their offer to make me part of the in-crowd and that I called them on doing something that is generally acknowledged to be wrong.

I think in both cases I handled it badly. Probably there was some other way to avoid gossip, without being so blunt. But I haven't figured it out yet. Certainly it stopped gossip from flowing my way.

Gossip definitely has a purpose. I don't know that it has a beneficial one.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Gossip. What's your take on gossip? I can't be certain there's a beneficial purpose to it. Feel free to try to persuade me otherwise.

 

[xbox]

I've seen gossip in many forms. I guess it can be used as a bonding strategy, or mere curiosity, but I've seen gossip take negative paths more than anything. And bonding through gossip usually backfires... seen that with my own eyes several times.

 

[ElvenVeil]

Well.. I would claim that every action results in something beneficial. . It just matters of what perspective you have.. For instance the person who spreads gossip will benefit from in it, in a way that he/SHE(!) will have spoken what is on his/her mind.
So yes , if you have this sort of perspective there is benefit to it.

As mentioned above it also seems to bring some people together.

I am not certain what exact actions counts as gossip and what actions that do not, but as a general rule, I don't see they purpose of gossip, from a personal perspective

 

[Hadoblado]

I never used to feel comfortable gossiping, but two people I live with are huge on gossiping (they are both istj, though murky). I now LOOOOOOVE gossip. Not so much knowing about other people's affairs, but just bitching about people in general. We have people who we have pretty much designated as 'bitch sinks', who take all our fire, and we can sit there for hours coming up with new ways to express just how much these people suck. I find it has made us infinitely closer, and provided endless hours of entertainment.
For those who need to know, it also clarifies just who is in the in-group and who is in the out-group. I guess it gives you an awareness of public perception before you decide to talk to someone, which is bad for the person involved, but can be good for you.

I dunno, I'm scraping the barrel here. I think it is generally against INTP nature to gossip, but it is fundamental to other personality types.

 

[Solitaire U.]

It's also a primary form of spreading news word of mouth, and far more relevant to one's immediate vicinity than CNN could ever provide. Just filter out the good stuff from the vapid banter.