I was driving to work in the morning and passively listening to the radio. There was some mention of ‘gossip’ and it got me thinking what would happen if there was no gossip. Sound odd to you? I think it’s very interesting.
Let’s begin by defining gossip. The dictionary describes it as -idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others.
I think that’s what makes it so bloody interesting. People so desperately want to know about others lives and genuinely follow it up and make a conscious effort to find out. Going by that everyone has an inquisitive side don’t they? [And that too for something ‘idle’ god knows what they would do for something relevant, it’s easy, stay shut!]
What I like more is the fact that people love to spread the word too. It’s as if they can’t keep it in their tummy, or is it that they now have something interesting to start a conversation with? Information which will grab attention, views and a collective nod. Suddenly so many individuals are on one side.
Coming back to communication and gossip. What would happen if there was no gossip? Let’s see
1. Content of conversation
Would it be ok to say people would have dry, boring, ordinary conversations? What would they talk about? Themselves [as idle talk about others is classifies as gossip]. Would they talk about the weather, places fashion, technology? Could they go on and on like this without referring to somebody, something completely idle!!!
2. Perceptions
Now all of us form perceptions, it’s just that some of us form them after meeting people / experiencing products. Some of us form perception completely based on hear say, more dangerously someone else’s POV. Does that mean these people would be left dry, without having any perception, would that mean they go in to meeting people for the first time with a clean mind? Ok now is that good or bad? Both actually. I’m sure you can figure out why.
3. The way we communicate – mediums
Would there be less ‘instant communication’. Ok now that’s a bit far fetched. But would the way we use ‘instant’ mediums suffer? Would there be less demand for it? Would the urgency to communicate suffer?
4. Number of people involved / connected.
If it’s gossip it has to travel, if it doesn’t it’s not gossip. Would less people be connected because of the omission one fun, interesting topic? Is it safe to say that gossip about a third party has the power to flow and unite many people together, enough that they form a counter view [opposition, movement].
5. What would happen to glossy gossip magazines?
Ha ha ha ha would they perish? More importantly what would happen to it’s readers? Would they use that time to do something more constructive? I don’t think so. They’ll just find another hobbby in which they don’t have to use their brain.
So if there was no gossip would life be boring and would there be less to communicate about?
Think about it.
