What is the emotional pull inside of us that makes us feel the need to poke our noses into someone else’s business? Is it the possibility of getting blackmailed, or is it just the thought that it would make us “a better friend?” Perhaps, gossip simply makes us feel important.

Regardless of the reason, at some time or another, we all engage in gossip. We “accidentally” spill the secret, or we just tell that one “trusted” person. Somehow it gets out, that secret you dug for, that juicy bit of news you were told; it all escapes and the entire student population finds out. A friend can leave you feeling guilty, forgotten, or shunned afterword.

So, if we know that it will end badly, and we know it could hurt someone, why do we gossip? Why do we risk hurting people? It is human nature to feel like your own life isn’t significant, so we try to fill a perceived empty life, with other people’s drama.

Do we ever stop to consider that filling our lives with this borrowed drama could hurt those involved? Whether we consider that fact or not, it doesn’t stop us, doesn’t make us realize the harm that could be caused.