Why do people gossip?

@naty1941 (2336)
United States
April 2, 2007 11:34pm CST
I would like to know why people gossip because I have an Aunt that gossips about all the family and it is very hurtful. One of my cousins says our Aunt is jealous and that is why she gossips. What do you think? What makes a person gossip to the point it hurts the family member?
4 people like this
12 responses
@ssharp (50)
• United States
3 Apr 07
I would say that it may well be jealously - other times, people simply enjoy conflict, and others just lack thoughtful, insightful things to talk about. At least you know who not to share secrets with.
2 people like this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Yes, when I am around her I am very careful of what I say.
@alicebun (204)
• China
22 Apr 07
I do not like gossiping because I think it may hurt the person who you talked.I think your Aunt must be not satisfied with her family.If I am free,I like reading books or watching TV, or working in mylot talking something with my friends ,such as you!hehe
1 person likes this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
22 Apr 07
If she had some hobbies life would be more fun. Her children are grown up and she lives alone in a nice house. She has an extended family but everyone is afraid to say anything near her because she will twist everything around.
• United States
22 Apr 07
I hate when people gossip. I will do anything not to listen to it. Sometimes I'll cut the TV up louder so I can't here them talking. Sometimes I will even go and sit outside on the porch. The problem with too much gossip is that sometimes they get the facts wrong and spread false rumors. Plus I don't like people talking about me behind my back, so I wouldn't do it to others. Lloyd
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
22 Apr 07
You have a good point it is better not to hear them. I like the idea of turning the TV louder...Thanks for the response.
@farukh445 (206)
• India
3 Apr 07
I think they find solace in talking about somebody else's life. Yeah jealously comes out when they see something precious in other's home.
1 person likes this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
5 Apr 07
You are right as I have observed this with my Aunt.
@palpalsky (899)
• United States
5 Apr 07
well people gossip in different ways and for different reasons ..attimes it to kill time ..attimes in somebody nature ....i mean i guess for gossip its endless reason
1 person likes this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
14 Apr 07
You are right there are many reasons that people gossip. Thank you for your response.
• India
3 Apr 07
Gossipping is pretty bad I can tell. however, people who have no work and ahve lots of time to waste end up gossiping. It unnecessarily tarnishes the image of the erson about whom we are speaking about to the person whomm we are talking to. Why should we talk ill about somebody?dont we have other important work to do?I really dont like people who gossip.as you say the gossippers might even be jealous people. but The best thing I cantellis that people who have no other work gossip as said "Idle mind is devil's workshop"
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I never thought about that but it is true. People that have a lot of time on their hands do tend to gossip if they have no work, or hobbies.
@Island_Geko (3759)
• Canada
3 Apr 07
Why do we gossip? What compulsion drives us to corner our friends and neighbours and bombard them with the latest saga of Mrs. Halmartin and her plumber? Humans are fascinated by what other people get up to. The success of the tabloid dailies is ample proof of that. We are interested in other people and gossip is a way to find out that information true or false.
1 person likes this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
4 Apr 07
That is interesting and true as the tabloids are full of gossip. Thanks for your comment.
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
3 Apr 07
People as a whole are very curious. I think some people use gossip to find out how to fit in and to have something to talk about. Others like to dig in the dirt and be the 1st one to tell something bad about someone else. Maybe your Aunt doesn't have much of a life...I mean things to keep her occupied or fulfilled, and this makes her feel a part of something. Hard to say...
1 person likes this
• India
3 Apr 07
yes i myself wonder y people gossip. Sometimes i feel they are insecure and feels inferior to others. And sometimes i feel it is their nature. I feel the best way to react to gossip is to act like u dont care bout their gossip at all
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Apr 07
Honestly i think that people who gossip don't have anything interesting going on in their life so there for they have to talk about everyone else's drama. I also believe that most people that gossip don't really realise how hurtfull the gossip can be. The best thing to do is really open up the persons eyes to what they are doing. After all im sure they may not really know what they are doing. But there is no need to be mean or nasty about it but you could gently bring it up and point it out to her.
1 person likes this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I have brought it up and also other nieces have confronted her but she continues to gossip. She will never learn how ugly her gossip really is.
@Suze05 (480)
• United States
3 Apr 07
It depends on the person who is doing the gossiping and what they are gossiping about and to whom .. some people are jealous, some just like to discuss the people they know with other people they know, maybe to show that they know things other people dont know..like that makes them special. In the case of people who say hurtful or mean things, and start rumors that are untrue, in most cases they do it because they are jealous or have no life of their own to worry about, so they have to get in other people's business and start drama to make their lives seem more interesting.
1 person likes this
@Chryssi (828)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I think that a lot of them have done it for so long that it comes naturally to them. Or maybe they're subconsciously trying to avoid dealing with some aspect of their lives, and they feel that the only way of doing that is to talk about someone else's life. Maybe your aunt doesn't realize how much she's hurting you and your family. You might try to sit down and discuss it with her.