People gossip ! Yes, that's not a big revelation. Humans have been gossiping since time immemorial. Though, the phenomenon is nothing new, the verb 'to gossip' was first used by our dear Shakespeare.
Wikipedia defines Gossip as idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. It forms one of the oldest and most common means of sharing (unproven) facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and other variations into the information transmitted. The term also carries implications that the news so transmitted (usually) has personal or trivial nature, as opposed to normal conversation.
It helps to form or strengthen bonds of acquaintance or friendship, especially in a situation where people hardly know each other and are subject to transferable jobs and lives. Gossip, then, becomes a great conversation starter. It can be an idle chat between friends , but in an extreme form, can take shape of treason against one's institution or even one's country, depending , of course, on the contents of the gossip.
During one of these idle chit-chats, I happen to compare the nature of people to that of subatomic particles :). Well, people could be like protons and electrons. Some like protons , do not get attracted by magnetic fields of gossip and remain stable. They receive information and choose to just sit on it. Whereas , there are others who are always charged up like electrons and ready to jump at the slightest hint of magnetic gossip fields. They make bonds and break bonds with others like them ( other electrons) depending on the nature of the gossip. They even generate magnetic gossip fields , simply by moving here and there with their idle chit chat/dirt/misinformation/scandals, etc.
Having said the above, it is imperative to mention that these so called electrons are very essential to our society. Just as the exchange or sharing of the electrons between two or more atoms is the main cause of chemical bonding, No community, society, or group can bond without the presence and exchange of these electrons. It is a human need to interact with others as without the social bond, survival is scary. However, there is a fine line between idle chit chat and malicious rumour and people should respect the line and live in peace with their neighbours.
