Letters to the Editor
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The Power of Gossip...
I gossip, and I enjoy the power that comes with exchanging and withholding information at various turns. The thing is, gossiping can help or harm you depending on how good you are at doing it.
The best gossipers are smart about it. We know what to tell what person and not to tell another. Sometimes its about leading, but not disclosing. Other times its about listening. There's a trade off; I'll tell you mine POV if you give up new dirt.
And then there's speculation. It isn't just the info itself, but what the new information means. The information has to mean something to me or the person I'm talking to. Just running your mouth to hear yourself talk will get you burned faster than "dating" the cutest guy in H.S. I'm a really good speculator. I can forecast drama to come based on knowing the natures of the players involved.
And finally, there's connecting the dots. I'm careful about gossiping because even the most innocent piece of information can be connected to something equally innocent and make one big stink.
The plain truth is that gossiping is wrong. It can hurt people's feelings, and it can ruin reputations, including your own. Waxing poetic over someone else's drama is a sure sign that you have none of your own (which I'm glad to say that I don't!). Being judicious in what you say and what you listen to is always a good rule of thumb. While gossiping is enjoyable, you have to be careful with that kind of power because you might just get cut like a $10 hooker working wrong street corner. LOL