REAL LIFE
From Issue #15
Gossip Dates Back
to Ancient Times
GOSSIP was part of human activity centuries
before the Internet increased its punch.
The Bible warns that gossip “betrays a confidence”
and “separates close friends.” Proverbs 18:8 says, “The
words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down
to a man’s inmost parts.” Chinese, Spanish and Jewish
proverbs all describe the impact of gossip.
The English word “gossip” originated as “godsibb,”
referring to a godparent. Because godmothers often
assisted with the birth of a child or were present in
all-female settings, the word became understood as
women who talked frequently.
Until about the 16th century, gossip denoted
friendship. Today, gossip is defined by the dictionary
as “chatty talk; the reporting of sensational or
intimate information.”
Spreading rumours is an instinct modern humans
have kept since the Stone Age, said a report in the
Harvard Business Journal. In those days, information
was swapped to let others know who was the chief
hunter. Rumours now help people win advantage in a
social network, said Nigel Nicholson, a professor at the
London Business School.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moorish general
murders his new wife Desdemona after the villain Iago
repeatedly accuses her of having an affair. Moments
later, Othello learns that Iago’s words were false.
During the Second World War, “alien enemy ears”
were presumed to be everywhere and “gossip control”
was considered to be a legitimate government activity.
In recent times, rumours have been cited for the
destruction of reputations. Former U.S. labour
secretary Raymond Donavan was forced to resign after
unfounded rumours of wrongdoing were leveled against
him. “Where do I go to get my reputation back?” he
asked reporters after a court exonerated him.
READ ABOUT GOSSIP AND IT'S IMPACT ON STUDENTS
