When is it Gossip? Speculation?

[wworld]

I know hearing or talking about people’s faults is considered gossip. But when news sites, tech sites, and others are making talking about a new, unannounced, and unreleased product/partnerships between companies/etc. is it considered “gossip” since it’s spreading a rumor?

I was taught that gossip is hearing or talking about people’s faults (faults would be sins, right?) willingly. After spending some time on these forums (mostly lurking ) and reading a definition on the internet, it seems to have become: the spreading of a rumor.

So, when is speculation? When is it gossip? Thank you for clearing this up.

 

[nickybr38]

I consider gossip talking behind someone’s back about THEIR life period. I always cringe when people start telling me what so and so is doing, even if it’s not a negative story. Someone else’s life is NONE of my business unless THEY decide to share details with me.

I think I might have an overly harsh view of gossip though…

So if a celebrity is willingly sharing information with a magazine then I’d say it’s not gossip… if a magazine is hiding in bushes to get information and interviewing friends of celebrity then I’d call it gossip.

 

[odile53]

I think it’s “speculation” when there are rumors circulating about a product or service that has yet to be unveiled by a company. For example, if Apple decided to launch a new operating system, I’m sure there would be a lot of speculation as to whether, for example, it would support BluRay. Discussing something like that doesn’t, at least on the face of it, cast any negative light on Apple.

But bandying about someone’s personal business behind their back is definitely gossip, even if superficially there is no ill will involved. It simply isn’t any of our business what someone else is doing. And quite honestly, whenever I’ve been in the position of being a bystander to this sort of thing, I’ve never heard the person in question being discussed charitably, even when there is a sort of polite veneer to the conversation. Even if a couple of neighbors are discussing whether the kid next door is going to go to Harvard or the state university, there is usually something negative that comes up during the course of the conversation.

Gossip is not only damaging to another, and therefore sinful, but it is a really crummy way to be dealing with one’s fellows. And a gossiper gets a reputation for gossiping, and destroys their own reputation for trustworthiness.

 

[AussieSteve]

I would say it definately falls into the realm of gossip when we speak about others for purely superficial reasons such as entertainment or popularity. I would also add that I would think it would have to be inherently negative or at least potentially damaging to someone else to be considered truly gossip. I mean, I was speaking to a friend today about another friend who just got a new job. I wouldn’t consider that gossip, even if our conversation was little more the interest sake.

I also don’t think speaking about a person’s private life is necassarily bad in itself - sometimes it can be constructive and necassary. Take for example, my sister-in-law who is suffering some through some serious emotional and personal issues at the moment. Me wife and I frequently discuss her issues so we can decide how to best help her or best understand her issues. I don’t think this is gossip either.

I suppose if you are trying to make it simple, if it is talk that could hurt others and you don’t actualy need to be talking about it - don’t.

Blessings,
Steve

 

[baltobetsy]

I would say it definately falls into the realm of gossip when we speak about others for purely superficial reasons such as entertainment or popularity. I would also add that I would think it would have to be inherently negative or at least potentially damaging to someone else to be considered truly gossip. I mean, I was speaking to a friend today about another friend who just got a new job. I wouldn’t consider that gossip, even if our conversation was little more the interest sake.

I also don’t think speaking about a person’s private life is necassarily bad in itself - sometimes it can be constructive and necassary. Take for example, my sister-in-law who is suffering some through some serious emotional and personal issues at the moment. Me wife and I frequently discuss her issues so we can decide how to best help her or best understand her issues. I don’t think this is gossip either.

I suppose if you are trying to make it simple, if it is talk that could hurt others and you don’t actualy need to be talking about it - don’t.

Blessings,
Steve

Excellent advice, Steve. Welcome to the forum!

 

[raaucoin]

I believe it’s gossip if you would not say something to the individuals face or would be uncomfortable if they found out you are talking about them.

 

[odile53]

I actually liked some homespun advice from Ann Landers years and years ago. She offered this guideline to use when deciding if some piece of information should be repeated:

1. Is it true?
2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary?

If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” then you should keep your mouth shut!

 

[smichhertz]

Here’s what the CCC has to say:

2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:

• of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;

• of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;

• of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity.

So basically, if it is true and if what you are disclosing has nothing to do with the faults and failings of another person, then it’s okay. For instance, saying someone get married, just got a new job, had a new baby, etc. Those are all fine, but if you say someone did this or that bad thing, then it’s more in the realm of gossip.

 

[nickybr38]

Here’s what the CCC has to say:

So basically, if it is true and if what you are disclosing has nothing to do with the faults and failings of another person, then it’s okay. For instance, saying someone get married, just got a new job, had a new baby, etc. Those are all fine, but if you say someone did this or that bad thing, then it’s more in the realm of gossip.

I remember sitting in Mass and the lady beside me leaned over and she whispered: See those people over there? They can’t have kids. Those kids sitting with them were adopted! Aren’t they cute?

Nothing she said was malicious and it wasn’t necessarily pointing out anyone’s faults or failings (she was telling me in a ; aren’t they great!? kind of way) but it still felt wrong to the max.

I don’t know about you but I hate it when people talk about me… no matter what they were saying. It bothers me terribly.

 

[twoangels]

I find gossip unclear as well. I don’t think its gossip at all to hear about what’s going on in the lives of other people from other people. I think its a bit strange to think that unless you’re talking to someone directly, you shouldn’t be interested in knowing about them. Heck, I particularly like it when I find out that people care enough to ask about me. I’ve had a few people I never even knew considered me a friend and write me a letter saying “I heard you were pregnant. Is that true? If it is, I’m so excited for you.” I would have never even thought of informing these individuals because I would have thought that they wouldn’t have cared.

That said, I do think a lot of news that gets reported even outside of celebrity gossip is gossip. Exactly why do I need to know any of the local crime news going on in a State I don’t live in? Why is it reported on a national level? Why do such reports that happen in big cities mean so much more than what happens in a small town? I think we need to know local news because we might be able to help out at a local level and it might help us make decisions about what neighbhorhoods to avoid. It can help make decisions about which road to take if I know there is an accident on one of the roads I usually take. But several states away? I think I can just be told what the crime statistics are in an area before I vacation there. Other than that, what concern is it to me except to gawk at some stranger and pass judgments on them.

I guess that’s what I think gossip is: engaging in conversation just to gawk and pass judgment on someone. It serves no purpose but to feel self righteous and gives us the illusion that our two cents actually means something. I do think that when something is happening in the family though that is bad, that there are times where its important to talk about it. The line is somewhere where the information is important to know and where its just about gawking. What is hard for me is when I’m looking say for hope in my brother’s situation, asking how things are going for him and the only stories I’m hearing are how things are getting worse or at least not getting any better.

I suppose it’d be helpful if I could find a definition of gossip in the Catechism.

 

[twoangels]

Here’s what the CCC has to say:

So basically, if it is true and if what you are disclosing has nothing to do with the faults and failings of another person, then it’s okay. For instance, saying someone get married, just got a new job, had a new baby, etc. Those are all fine, but if you say someone did this or that bad thing, then it’s more in the realm of gossip.

Thank you so much for posting what the Catechism says. It definitely clears some things up for me. I think another good clarification to it that the Catechism gives is that you need a valid reason to disclose negative information. For instance, if we weren’t allowed to say anything negative, we would be morally obligated to hide the crimes of other individuals and would fail at protecting the innocent.