Blogpost 2: The World of Gossip!

            Gossiping is said to be the Filipino’s national past time.  Filipinos are driven to work and focus always on what they are doing. Their only free time to relax and unwind is during coffee break and lunch break specifically. Chatting to their colleagues is a normal thing because they are always facing the computer or busy doing a lot of paper works which are all necessary to the company where they work. Unbelievably, they find time to gossip and talk a lot about other people. They like to put down others or just simply make fun of them. When I was in high school, I had a classmate who looks so weird. Almost everyone doesn't like him because he always tends to be alone and sit on the chair all the time until our class is over. Instead of approaching him, they only discuss their impressions to him. Some comments were not that good but somehow there are few good comments. I also shared to them my impressions and other comments. I have to admit that I'm a talkative person and it's indeed natural in me but I don't like the things that will put other people down unlike the others who are fond of doing it. 

  

             Filipinos really do like to gossip or let’s say “tsismis”, as it locally referred to. Filipinos are not only the one who keeps on gossiping but also the other countries all over the world. Gossips are such widespread and it makes me to think why we love to gossip. Last time, I asked myself how it all began and I’m fortunate because I was able to know all the necessary informations and the history itself. Remember the first two questions I put in to my blogpost 1 and now I’m going to find out the answers on that questions that would satisfy me again for the second time around. 

             I saw an article entitled "Why do people gossip?" by M.Farouk Radwan. A part of his article is this: "The person who is laughing out loud, capturing the attention of everyone in the room while gossiping about someone is not as happy as he seems." The article helps us to know the truth about gossiping. This person may have a jealousy with his/her peers, being frustrated all the time, weak and angry. He/she has probably found a low self esteem or respect from the others. They feel like that when they gossip, he/she seems so popular and interesting but it's not. As I read the article, there is a man named Sam who has a friend and he was treated badly by this guy. He can't do anything but to keep quiet. Sam went home so angry and as usual, frustrated because he can't settle the problem directly and in order to take revenge, he did it indirectly by gossiping.

(c) flabbergastenglish

              He only did that thing because he feels so weak and that is the main reason. I find it interesting that people who can't fight have to gossip only because they didn't have the courage. Another part of this article is, "What does a phrase like: "Did you see that guy, he can’t even do anything right" mean?" 

            On my own opinion, it means that this guy can't even compare to him because he can do everything while he can't, so he is worthy. Unfortunately, people who feel they are inferior, they start gossiping. The reasons are to prove that they are worthy and let people around them to believe them. And of course, to become better than them all. 

            People also gossip because they are lacking of self-confidence. For some, boredom will result to gossiping but this is incorrect simply because gossiping is not an option if you are bored and most especially if you're free from negative feelings (e.g. psychological weaknesses). 

(c) definitelyfilipino

              According to the article made by Alison Poulden entitled "Why People Gossip and How to Avoid it?", people loves to gossip to feel superior, out of envy and to feel like part of the group. In this article, some responses are given to unwelcome gossip. For example, somebody is gossiping about a person and it's better to change the topic like these things: “I feel uncomfortable listening to negative judgments about people unless we figure out how to help them.” and “Let’s talk about something more positive or decide what we’re going to do this afternoon.” All these things are necessary to help those gossipers to talk a lot about other people and it's essential not to feed the gossiper with such curiosity and further questions. 

(c) nordis

          For me, to deal with gossipers, let him burn by sending him good and interesting news about me to keep him burning with his own fire. If the said gossiper causing a big damage, it's the time to confront him and tell that you are aware with what he is doing. Talk to him in a nice way because if you only threatened him, he will probably gossip more about you because of the stored anger.

      In general, gossip is a risky activity. It can lead to dishonesty and distrust. "Think before you Speak!", spreading gossips will cause too much problem to an individual that may cause a severe damage so we must be able to think what will be the effect before we say anything about a particular person. Gossiping only show others the gossiper's insecurities. It is not a sin to talk about others as long as we did it in a right way without hurting anyone. We shall all say what's the truth to gain respect from others and to be in a group.  

      We have to admit that we are all guilty with the wrong deed we have done to others by gossiping about them. An old wise saying, “You should not throw stones if you live in a glass house.” So if we all live in glass houses, why do we need to throw stones at somebody else glass house? All we need is understanding and respect to each and everyone. Monitor the words we utter to properly convey the information we tend to say.