Why Do People Gossip?

I have the same question.. And I believe that these people don't have a life.. And they don't think much of themselves.. It means to me, that they are frustrated with their own lives, are definitely not happy at all...and mostly, the feel some level of envy towards the person they are gossiping. Something bothers them about the life of the other person, so they are constantly banging against them with lies, gossip, and other stuff to see if somehow, they can lower their popularity or goodness.. And maybe add something to theirs.. It is very difficult to answer, since every case must be different. But I believe this sums the general aspect of gossip.. First, they are not happy, second, they don't have much to do with their lives, so they turn to watch other peoples lives.. And mostly they envy some part or the entire life of that person they are criticizing. Hope this helps. What we need to do is simply ignore them and keep on moving with our lives.. We will always find people with low self esteems in our paths, and we are not responsible for their situation, or how they choose to feel and act about their situation. So it would be a waste of time to even confront them or ask what their problem is, because they won't know the anwer.. They are the problem and we already know it.. So lets keep on with our happy lives, and let others choose their paths and life..

Marie Anne Granata

People gossip because they're bored or lack security. They gossip because they've learned it's a socially acceptable way to get attention and shift any negative focus off of themselves. People who major in "gossip" are to be pitied. They damage others without even being aware of the effect they have on people. They're "small" in their own eyes and envious of others. This is how they feel better about themselves. If possible, stay away from them. They'll drag you down. And.. If you find yourself gossiping , then think about why you're really doing it. In the long run, it just makes you feel like you need a good, long shower to wash that kind of "stink" off your body and out of your soul.

Everyone has or will gossip at one time or another. I don't think anyone will ever find out why..... Whether it may be revenge or just to make themselves look better, it doesn't matter it just shows that they are cowards who are afraid to say it to the persons face and that's messed up

I do believe that people does this kind of things in their life..
One of the reason is that they don't have anything to say about their selves because they think that they are perfect but no, they don't see there self... I have this in my life...sometimes in the family..I know everything but the only thing is that I'm shutting my mouth off and just forget everything that they say in our family.. But I know one day God will punish them... It's because gossip makes the life of people ruined especially if you don't like one of your family members.. And.. One more thing that I don't like is that people who talk in your about... Like dah! Do they don't have lives? And sometimes I don't like the way they gossip because first... They are going to tell this to one person and this person tell it to others and then 3 of them start adding some information's that's not true... And the person that they are gossiping doesn't know anything.. Isn't it that hurts.. I know there are still a lot of people who BACK FIGHT even if they are one family...yeah.. I saw something else that everyone has or will gossip at one time to another.. I think yeah sometimes.. But I don't like they way they spread this gossiping.. And add some more details that's not true...this is the only way I can express my feelings to those who gossips because I have known a lot of people who gossips about our family.. I Hope they stop doing this... Especially if You are so called CHRISTIAN..

How can Christian gossips inside the chapel or church.. This is even not appropriate,,
Hope this will last... And lessen people will do this...

Klutzyhazel_20

I believe people gossip because they are trying to hide something. They clearly are trying to take the focus off of themselves and put it on someone else. They have zero self esteem and hang around people just like them to make them feel like they arent the only ones acting like that so it  must be ok. The whole "safety in numbers" thing. God forbid they get caught gossiping on their own by the one they are talking about! They would probably pee their pants! Hey! Now THAT would be something worth talking about!

I think its due to the fact that they have nothing better to do than to hurt other people.

I my opinion, people gossip because they don't have anything going on in their lives and feel useless without faith. These are people that really have a low self esteem about themselves. Gossiping helps them feel alive and makes them feel important, in the sense that they have and know information about someone else that you don't have. They actually feel pleasure when they gossip regarding someone else, and they can't wait to release their story. I believe certain people live only to gossip, and will actually feel sad and get depressed if they don't have some thing to say about some else. In a way this is a sickness which in fact is evil... Gossiping hurts many people, and I wish it would stop...BUT>>> God sees all and at the end God knows who is who and knows the truth. Who ever Gossips to harm someone else is only harming themselves.

Don't think this can be answered definitively-I believe the most logical reasons are as follows-----insecurity--low self esteem-to seek attention --inferiority complex--not an answer--just my opinion-

People gossip because  they are jealous of you when others like you because of your good personalities they also gossip if you look better than them.

I think I agree wi Marie Anne, that gossiping about someone is rooted in jealousy or envy of that person. The Gossiper/bully has such low self-esteem or unhappy/damaged personality, they need to put their victim down at all costs to make them self feel more confident & superior.

Other reasons folk gossip is lack of control in their own lives & need to feel popular. The thing to do wi folk like this, if your the subject of gossip, is don't let them see its getting to you. Never bite to their digs or break down in front of them etc & ignore them. If you can avoid them, do it- there's plenty more better people out their to hang out wi.

At the end of the day, the way I see it -whatever rumours are being speed or folk say about you true or otherwise, nobody can define who you really are, except YOU, or make you feel a certain way, only if you let them. Don't give them that power. And what others see/say you are is not ALL what you are.

My boss can't stop talking about everyone.  She has a burning curiosity to know the minutest details of everyone's life.  But mostly she is interested in ferreting out negative suppositions and inflating them into huge issues.  She definitely has low self esteem, and by her own admission she does not have any friends.  God only knows why she does this, or why any gossip gossips--the only thing I can say for sure is that it's unpleasant as hell and I don't like it, and she is a very talented person, but this bad habit of hers to gossip all the time about everyone diminishes her.  It is undignified.

I think people gossip because they lack self esteem.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT!!!I think they just
do it because there losing self-esteem,and want to feel better about themselves.I could think of quite a few reasons,but no solutions.:(

Because they are immature and sad and morally do not know much better and have nothing better to do wiht their time and don't have the confidence to get a life as well.

It is a malicious, destructive way of attempting to position themselves higher in the workplace or social hierarchy. At work this can be detrimental to anyone being gossiped about because the complaints of the gossipers get back to management and management then blames the victim of gossip for the problems being talked about, seeing the gossipers as the socially acceptable ones. Management will hear the gossip, or the gossiper will get all fired up from gossiping and take their petty complaints to management like a childhood tattletale, in order to curry direct favor, all without anyone ever discussing small issues and concerns directly with the persons being gossiped about. Then management, instead of punishing the gossipers as the problem-causers, will see them as cooperative and helpful, and will talk to or punish the victims of gossip. Thus, the gossiper has raised their own place in the hierarchy by stepping on someone else. It's morally repugnant, reprehensible, and sad but since those in a position of power are situated to like and trust the popular person and not their victims, there doesn't seem to be a solution that is readily apparent. All those who participate in and forward such a system are tools, so take comfort in the fact that they lead sad, meaningless lives with little depth.

I'm doing an oratory speech about this for my high school forensics league. What I have found is that people gossip because not only are they bored with their own lives, but find that they have a boosted confidence about themselves when they do so. I couldn't believe it either when I heard, so I looked it up and found studies. This one from the 'Social Issues Research Center" : "Gossip is the human equivalent of 'social grooming' among primates, which has been shown to stimulate production of endorphins, relieving stress and boosting the immune system. Two-thirds of all human conversation is gossip, because this 'vocal grooming' is essential to our social, psychological and physical well-being. "

Because they can't keep mouth shut and don't have anything to say and can't say it to you cause they want  to  spread roomers

People gossip mostly because they're jealous. Sometimes they just are miserable,or they don't like somebody at school,or other places.

SOME gossip is harmless. MOST gossip is not. When you hear people talking, is it in a positive light or negative?!  If it's negative, you know you are violating God's laws against bearing false witness against your neighbor. Most negative gossip is SLANDER, seeking to destroy or defame someone's reputation. Some people are habitual gossips, running to and fro always slamming someone. It isn't long before people catch onto what they're all about and the gossip loses all credibility and respect. When you hear the gossip, it becomes a "consider the source, Axxx is always slandering someone and stirring up garbage".  Being a gossip might give one a sense of self importance for a short while, but in the end God's natural and spiritual laws deliver justice and people become repulsed by the gossip.  Anyone who has a lick of sense, knows that when you hang around a gossip, it's only a matter of time before she's spreading lies about YOU!

Hey like news and it excites them to have something to talk about. You know how that goes,  obama is something to talk about because he lies everyday and getting sick of it!