Forbidden Pleasure

Like sex, gossiping too is one of the forbidden pleasures of life. This post is not about how gossiping is unhealthy or bad or stuff liek that. No this is about how gossiping is healthy!

For too many years women have been receiving flak for being gossip queens. I beg to differ. When it comes to gossiping men are not to be left behind, much as they may dislike me saying this. But it's a fact. It's just that men dont like calling it gossiping. It's a lot more 'cooler' to say, 'I'm hanging at the bar with the guys tonight'. Well we all know what the talk is going to be about right...sex, sports, cars and some serious bitching about the people in the workplace!

What is it about this small chitchat that makes it so appealing? It's not just the gratification angle that makes it so compelling. The dynamics of human relationships that come into play when we talk about gossiping. The feeling of being 'important' accompanies that makes it so important. People look upto you for being the one who has the 'andar ki khabar' (No I wont say yeh andar ki baat hain...that is best left for the unimaginative marketing people).

Gossping is a great way to bond! It definitely earns you a few more brownie points among co-workers especially if you are the 'provider' of some exciting and spicy news :). Like it or not people gossip to network. It's a great way to break the ice and gain peer acceptance. From a very psychological point of vie it makes one feel like every other human...it's a way to reaffirm that we belong to the society!

It can be a great anti-depressant. Nothing lifts your mood better than a healthy dose of salacious gossip on a blue day. Monday morning blues anyone? All those negative emotions like anger and frustration can be vented out. Bye bye depression, at least for the time being.

So the next time someone gives you a lecture about how they despise gossip-mongers, you can give them a piece of advice and maybe some latest gossip! It'll do them a world of good believe me.