To gossip, to indulge in idle talk, to tittle-tattle is considered almost as a national sport in some countries. It suits men well that this habit has been attributed to women since time immemorial. But let us make no mistake about it, men enjoy listening to scandalous tales as much as they relish narrating them. If we pause for a moment and think about it, gossip comes naturally to human beings because after all we are gregarious and we need to socialize. Psychologists like Robin Dunbar even think that we are genetically programmed to gossip and that language has evolved among humans to allow us to do so.

Indeed, gossip is a sociological phenomenon that encourages social bonding. It helps to establish, develop and maintain relationships. The “we” feeling is created as gossipers get together for a chat. The conversation turns around “who is doing what with whom”. In the process, the gossipers indulge in evaluation of others’ choices and very often in self evaluation. Therefore, gossip is about discovery of others and of oneself.

For some people, gossip is an important professional tool. Writers, actors, film makers and even journalists obtain essential information from gossip and often go to the extent of provoking it for vested interest. Fascinating stories and valuable information is thus obtained, which is later processed and formatted for specific purposes.

In a way, gossiping can be a therapy. It involves excitement and anticipation. The whole range of human emotions is aroused as the story advances, with new elements juicily added by the avid audience. The effect can be cathartic as one emerges from the session feeling lighter. A kind of peace follows and stress is combated. Gossip is therefore good for our psycho-metabolic equilibrium.

On the other hand, there can be good gossip and bad gossip. Indeed, conversation involving malicious chatter can jeopardize relationships, damage reputations and hurt people because it can create, amplify and expand rumours and transport lies. It becomes a formidable tool in the hands of the expert who indulges in character assassination. Gossip is also a great consumer of time. It is true that sometimes gossip helps to “kill” time but as the momentum gathers, gossipers become oblivious of time. All other activities are then kept in abeyance until they have had their fill. Gossip lacks the rigour of intellectual discussion where reason and rationality are required. Gossipers allow themselves to be carried away by their own and other people’s biases and prejudices. That is why too much gossip leads to the development of a loose character.

As no single domain of life can escape the onslaught of technology, the practice of gossiping has benefited from an enormous boost with the advent of the mobile telephone. Today, a majority of mobile telephone users use their phones mainly for keeping in touch, social chatting and gossiping. The mobile phone goes further and offers a new medium for gossip. Indeed, the younger generation has a preference for “texting” rather than using the voice as it offers greater discretion and thus the possibility to gossip anytime, anyplace, anywhere.