Wow. Great post, Karen. I have never really considered the impact that discouraging gossip has on preservation of power against the powerless. Excellent analysis. Expressing a private word of caution to protect someone who very well might otherwise become a victim is not the same as gossip. One is designed to protect and support. The other is designed (at least the way it is interpreted in English) to tear down maliciously, based on a personal distaste for someone or a desire to boost one's own social standing. I think it all comes down to motivation.
And "Because people think only women gossip, here’s a stock photo of men gossiping" made me giggle with delight. Ha! 😂
Punch up, I really like that!
Wow. Great post, Karen. I have never really considered the impact that discouraging gossip has on preservation of power against the powerless. Excellent analysis. Expressing a private word of caution to protect someone who very well might otherwise become a victim is not the same as gossip. One is designed to protect and support. The other is designed (at least the way it is interpreted in English) to tear down maliciously, based on a personal distaste for someone or a desire to boost one's own social standing. I think it all comes down to motivation.