Usually people that participate in gossip are low class, lacking self respect,and self esteem and feel the need to talk about everyone else and it makes them feel better. I have had this happen to me from time to time the trick is not letting it bother you. In my 24 years I have seen many times what goes around comes around!

Why is it so important what other people do? Well if you think back to the roots of shame, and how to escape it's nasty claws, as shame can be down right shameful. Because we know a certain behavior is wrongful, we do know the difference between right and wrong, but sometimes our own judgement gets the best of us. The other problem comes in, when we look down our nose at someone, then we kind of have to look over our shoulder for someone to notice and start gossiping about our inadequicies.

gossip can be very hurtful and downright meanspirited. I have been on the receiving end of this big time. I know what it feels like to have my reputation destroyed. when none of the venmous lies they spread had no truth to them. some people love to spread gossip. I guess if they are ruining someone's elses reputation, they are glad they are being left alone. it is amazing how willing some people are to listen and spread this disgusting crap when they have no proof or backup to even believe it. I know what it feels like to be shunned and be given filthy looks when I am innocent of the venom they spread. and what it feels like to even have these creeps be cruel to my children. I just hope they all get their comeuppance some day. or at least some very bad karma coming at them.  I am giving this a one because gossip is so awful when you are harassing another person. and ruining their reputation.a pox on you evil gossips.

People who gossip can be hurtful and sometimes not even realize the damage that they have done to somebody else, spreading something that's either a half-truth or no truth at all. I was always told that if you couldn't say something nice about somebody, don't say anything at all. Like I've said in an earlier post: Let's really think about what we're saying before we say it.

Church Gossip - 

Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business.

Several members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused Henry, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told Henry and several others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.  Henry, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing.  Later that evening, Henry quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house...walked home.... and left it there all night.

You gotta love Henry

one min they're your best friend the next they're bitchin about you behind your back (you know who you are) well i have something thing to say to these people. you may think that when you bitch about someone behind there back that they won't hear about it, but just remember that every one hears eventually even if its only through idle gossip. well just think in future what your saying because sometimes people find out and they're so hurt by whats been said that they don't know who to trust so they go isolate them selves from every one and sit and cry or maybe worse people have killed them selves for less..... just think it's classed as bullying in some places.... how would you like to be bullyed, laughed at or ridiculed!!!! coz it can be arranged. some damageing little rumours here and there, but no that would mean lowering my self to your level and i aint up for that sh*t. I found this on the net and i think it is spot on. "The word is the most powerful tool you have as a human But like a sword with two edges, your word can create the most beautiful dream, or your word can destroy everything around you. One edge is the misuse of the word, which creates a living hell. The other edge is the impeccability of the word, which will only create beauty, love, and heaven on earth."

I do so on occasion but my wife and her friends literally do this as their only form of communication. I'm not trying to validate a sterotype or anything but one minute I'll her them complementing someone like you wouldn't believe and in the same breath they'll start saying how bloated she looked. It makes me wonder what they say about me!

I hate gossip...i hate people that gossip and also those people that talk S**T behind your back... they make me really angry

I will freely admit, I love gossip. I have no problem admitting this. People like to say they dont enjoy gossip, but the only time people dont enjoy it is when it's about themselves.

This particular habit is a bad one indeed. However, I have yet to meet someone who hasn't gossiped on one level or another, even if they don't realize they are doing it...it is just a natural human behavior. It is best if you keep your gossiping on a good level to where it will not hurt anyone involved.

There is no real benefit to it. Gossipers just try to impress the people who they are gossiping with. I guess they think it keeps the friendship healthy and satisfying. The gossipers don't realize that they get gossiped about too. When I get fed gossip unexpectedly I usually make no comments back. They then get bored of me and it makes them go away. I like to make the frequent gossipers go away, not the ones who gossip occasionally. For all I know, loyal gossipers are not honest people anyway.

Mind your own damn business!!!!!!!

Gossiping can really ruin someone's lives. I haven't seen it happen to anyone I know, but I know that it does happen out there. Mind your own God damn business!

For healthy communication it's important to come to someone if you have a problem with them.You might just get through to them and they might change.

Gossiping is like a bad kid...its always there at the wrong times..and always makes things 10 times worse..its hurtful...don't get mad....get even!

Gossiping is a sad by-product of when three people or more get together. It shouldn't happen, but it does, and it's hurtful. Most people don't even realize that they're doing it; discussing an absent friend's issues can inadvertently turn into talking behind their backs. Then, in other cases, some people deliberately do it to distract their peers from his/her own flaws, to get attention, or whatever. I try to make it a point to realize when gossip is starting, and either back out of the conversation, point out the positive aspects of the person in question, or change the subject. (And, whether you realize it or not, pretty much EVERYONE is on the "receiving" end of the gossip; even if you're well-liked, there's almost always someone who doesn't like you, and that's just how things are. Gossip is hurtful, but why should you care about what someone else thinks about you, anyway? If you're the subject of gossip, don't let it get you down too much--someone's opinion is not worth it.)

gossip never ends. you kiss a girl, tell one friend, and by the time it gets back you kissed a guy. how can the story bend so much? most as*holes say it's poor communication. LIE. GOSSIP AND LIES SPREAD BY DUMB FUC*ERS WHO MANIPULATE THE STORY (AKA MEDIA, DUMB GIRLS, FEW GUYS) AND SHAPE IT TO MAKE YOU LOOK BAD. THEN SOME OTHER DIC* CHANGES IT MORE. QUIT DOING THIS AND SHUT UP.

I like gossipers because they are what Lenin refers to as "useful idiots". . .gossipers are useful for spreading certian pieces of information that (fairly or unfairly) could serve your values. I guess I'm a hypocrite on this subject- I don't like gossiping but I have used gossipers in the past for my own purposes.

This is a terrible habit. It creates unnecassary drama, ill feelings, and turmoil.

Being in High School, I hear gossip stories everyday. I find it extremely immature, and just shows that the person who started it, more than likely has a self-esteem problem, or they have a need to be in the spotlight. I never believe what I hear, because most of the stories get twisted around after a few hundred people hear it.

I can't stand listening to people gossip about other people, especially when what they're talking about is none of their business. My grandma does this a lot. I always try to change the conversation or just walk away when people start gossiping.

As a high school student, I hear gossip almost daily. It is quite annoying, and although I have not had any unfortunate experiances, I'm sure its not fun to be on recieving end (the one being gosspied about).

I've been there.... on the RECEIVING END!!! IT HURTS!!!

This could result in a lot of hurt feelings, so I definitely feel it's a bad habit.

I hate gossip when its bitchy and putting people down, but when its about someone about to get engaged, or someone is pregnant, or something nice like that then I think its cool. I think its human nature to gossip, can you honestly say you haven't gossiped about someone and that none of your friends or family gossip? I'd find it very hard to believe if you say yes.

Here's a quarter. Get a life.

what's so bad about gossip? it's exectly like talking about the latest political event or the newest computer game or something. it's a chat theme, a daily changing and allways interesting one, when you can't think of anything to say to light up the dull, full of silences conversation, start gossiping, that'll light it up immidietly.

i can't stop it you know what i mean, i'm mr. chatterbox i am, i love 2 tlk how can u not.

Everybody loves Gossiping. Why are People Magazine & Star popular? The reason is people love to hear about celebrities problems, sex life, etc. If the rumor is not about them, people will talk about it.

It will always come back like a rabid dog and bite you in the ass.

Gossip is that thing (almost) everyone condemns but secretly enjoy listening to. Though at times it is quite entertaining there is no doubt that this is one of the worst things you could be doing (unless of course you work for a tabloid because then you get payed for it). It's a disrespectful and often very mean thing to do and nothing good usually comes of it.

The other day my boss couldn’t wait to let me in on the fact that a woman we both know had gotten back with her first ex after leaving her current husband. I do not know why he felt so strongly that he had to broadcast this but I know I could have lived the rest of my life not knowing about it. I don’t think most people stop to think that what they are spreading around is gossip. Sometimes I don’t think they even think they are actually spreading it around. Though it isn’t always harmless and can sometimes hurt people I don’t see how it can be completely avoided. A bad habit, sure…but I think there are much worse ones.