People gossip in general..
Who does it more..?
Men and women
And why?
Are there any benefits?

Hi lu,
I think women gossip more than men...

When us women get together we talk about what's happening in our lives, our co-workers, our neighbors and their pets... just about anything and we would laugh and have a great time drinking wine or margaritas.

When men folks get together, they watch sports, talk about sports and drink beer. They rarely talk about themselves or their work or their girlfriends specially if the wife's brother is with them. Just watch sports and drink beer.

My two cents...

Ooops! forgot the why and benefits...

Why do people gossip? For some people, they like putting their noses where they don't belong.

Benefits of gossip - aside from getting to know who is shagging who and feeding empty minds, nothing really beneficial

Ordinarily i might say women.
After yesterday i think i have to say it's equal

I so agree with you msrosie. That was plain and simple. Thank you.

Thank you Ana, you're right.

Hi lu, I'm finding varying statistics on this. Some say women, a lot say men. I think though it will also vary according to age group, peer group, and environmental factors. In a high school, who gossips more may differ than when in graduate school. Like wise in the work environment vs social gathering...etc..

At my work place, it's about equal. Although, I'm not 100% for sure because I am not in all places at one time, and I tend to ignore it or tune it out.

When I catch myself participating in gossip, it's usually because I find something interesting or on the rare occasion funny. Mostly I do my best to avoid it. I don't like it when other's gossip about me, and I don't like how I feel when I participate in others gossiping. In the past I have confronted people about it, but I too am guilty of doing it from time to time.

The only benefit is not really a benefit....it takes the focus off of you, and gives you a false sense of either, being better than someone, or knowing things you really have no idea about.

I see no benefit what so ever to gossip... none. All it does is hurt the person it is directed at and is self serving for the people spreading the gossip.

For me, it backfires and I form a opinion on the person dishing out the gossip.

Gossip is wrong.. it is mean.. and it hurts the people it is directed at

It serves no purpose.

Pisces, I very much tend to agree with you and I think it happens a lot in today's society.

Greeneyes, thank you for expressing your opinion, yes, it's true, gossip is wrong as long as it serves no purpose at all, especially when it's done with the intention of hurting someone. Thank you both.

Would gossip then, be seen as a negative against certain people vs. just talking and catching up on our lives?

We all gossip, like drinking coffee, is a must, even in the old wooden ships, they store the water in the gossip. Point being, male and females gossip, may be different topics but do it the same.

I'm sure we all know the difference, more or less, Sir. I think it's part of life. What do you think, Sir?

I don't like gossips. I always stay away from people who likes to talk about the lives of other people, it makes me feel guilty participating with them. It always happen among friends and at work and most of the time women flock together talking nonsense and unhealthy issues. I have noticed that majority of people who likes spreading rumors are usually the ones who are envious, jealous and have gruesome personal history. I just don't understand why they like it, they have nothing to gain from it. Well it depends on gossips, some are constructive and some are destructive. Constructive gossips are done by people who gathers info to help others, and can be beneficial for a certain situation that one person is facing. Others do destructive gossips, trash talks mostly without basis and not true just to destroy someone's reputation due to jealousy .

Good and healthy conversation is different from gossip. People when gathered together talk all the time, they may talk about personal experiences , life , food, environment, social and political issues but talking about private affairs of others is gossip, cheap/trash talk.

Good and healthy conversation is different from gossip. People when gathered together talk all the time, they may talk about personal experiences , life , food, environment, social and political issues but talking about private affairs of others is gossip, cheap/trash talk.

I agree, Dolphin. Thank you, my dear.

Hello Lu! thanks

Hi Ana, I have a friend who would talk about everyone at work. I tell him it's wrong but he won't listen to me.. Thank you, Ana.

All different individuals.. thank you for your comment.

Based on observing my limited social circle, and pop culture, my impression is that it's an equal balance when considering the worlds population. There will be some smaller groups where one gender will be more prone to gossip than the other.

I think one of the primary reasons both men and women do it is to inflate there own ego.

I forgot to add, gossip definitely can be negative and destructive. In my circle, people that know me, know better that talk negative or trash about others as I "bluntly" stop them in their tracks.
In my line of work, gossip can be helpful, when caustic is keep at "bay".
So, no, negative gossip is not acceptable.

^ I agree, no one likes that, but it happens. Thank you.

Thank you, Technovative.

Here is what this article says:
~The Findings

Now that we are pretty certain that most of us are gossiping, and we're clear on whether or not we're spreading information or participating in "idle chat," the question is- exactly who is perpetuating the cycle of gossip?

It was reported by a Social Issues Research Center that gossip accounts for 55% of men's conversation time and 67% of women's, a much smaller gap between the two sexes than usually thought.(2)

Men's pie chart Women's pie chart
~Are We Really that different?

So why all of the assumptions that women gossip more than men? Is it because women aren't as discreet about it? Or that they have a wider range of tone inflection so it's more obvious? Some would argue that men discuss subjects considered more important, including politics. As one psychologist wrote, "It is said that women gossip more than men do. Perhaps they only do it better. Men just call it "networking. Men are much more interested in who is up and who is down. Women tend to gossip more about who's in and who has merit. "(9)

But others would argue that we are all guilty of using gossip as a vital method of communication. Some would even say that we thrive on the juicy tidbits that we eagerly wait to hear and share. Whatever the reason, we all seem to be doing it, and loving every minute of it.

the source:ufl.edu

psst...i heard some woman on here is personally responsible
for the shortage of cucumbers in the grocery stores...
they're 5 bucks each now, if you can find them...

hi blondey i'll share the flack that's sure to follow