Issue Date: February 22, 2009
Can gossip be good?
The only thing my two sisters and I have in common is celebrity gossip. We love our three-way sessions. Is it so bad to gossip if it's something we love and enjoy?
C.P., New Mexico
Celeb gossip can create a bond with others and be a conversation starter.
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My first reaction: Who doesn't have a few bonding moments over celebrity gossip?
I can't count how many times I have called a friend or relative to talk about tabloid stuff -- and relate it to personal experiences. My very best friend, Gina, says if it wasn't for the "it's gossip" factor, there'd be hundreds of issues she'd never feel comfortable talking about ... and I'm thinking she's onto something. How easy is it to discuss a topic someone else brings up and out into the open?
Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center in Boston, notes that "gossip" is nothing new, and adding the celebrity factor only makes it more relatable. "It's a bonding thing. People evaluate and define themselves compared to others; celebrity news provides a way to evaluate our own lives in a positive way," she says.
Bottom line: It's OK to let idle gossip into a conversation, as long as you use it for clues to talk about what's really on the minds of your family members or friends.
Want to know more about latest celeb gossip? Click here.
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