Heard the latest? I have, and it’s only the second week of school. I think that may be a record for the fastest start of on-campus gossip at ULV. It’s everywhere on campus – the Student Center, the residence halls, the dining hall, even the classroom.
It seems “anytime, anyplace” is the philosophy people take when it comes to talking about the latest rumor.
I’m not saying that I haven’t told my fair share or heard my fair amount of rumors, because I have. But lately I’ve spent more time trying to figure out why people do this to one another.
Before now I relished the fact that I could say basically whatever I wanted about people without a care in the world, always using the old “Well, they shouldn’t have done it then … ” excuse to defend my point of view. But then I Heard the latest? I have, and it’s only the second week of school. I think that may be a record for the fastest start of on-campus gossip at ULV. It’s everywhere on campus-the Student Center, the residence halls, the dining hall, even the classroom.
It seems “anytime, anyplace” is the philosophy people take when it comes to talking about the latest rumor.
I’m not saying that I haven’t told my fair share or heard my fair amount of rumors, because I have. But lately I’ve spent more time trying to figure out why people do this to one another.
Before now I relished the fact that I could say basically whatever I wanted about people without a care in the world, always using the old “Well, they shouldn’t have done it then … ” excuse to defend my point of view. But then I the people in that same group would treat you as a good friend under different circumstances.
Few can understand the frustration or the sadness that comes with knowing that your name is getting thrown around in countless conversations – so many that you can’t possibly defend yourself to everybody. Neither can most understand the fear and anxious anticipation that comes with not knowing what will be said next.
What is most upsetting is the fact that we, the general public, will talk and talk, all the while never realizing how it is affecting the rumor victim. We just seem to be more inclined to keep that rumor mill churning. I call this “blind gossip” because those who do it can’t see or don’t want to see the truth, but spread the news anyhow.
The sad fact is, the people who do most of the talking just lead boring lives. Therefore they need to look into somebody else’s life to find something worth talking about.
Of course, the past has no bearing on anyone’s reputation after a rumor has spread. The reality is, you could be a Nobel Peace Prize winner on this campus, but any blunder, no matter how great or minute, basically obliterates any redeeming qualities you have once the talk begins.
What seems to make “blind gossip” so appealing is the fact that you can say anything about anybody, and if it turns out to be wrong, you can say, “Oh, well, that’s what I heard from other people …. ” Nobody would even question it. It’s simply a perverse sort of thrill.
I have come to the conclusion that in many instances, the gossip that goes on at ULV is like a car accident – it doesn’t really involve us, yet we still can’t keep from slowing down and watching, hoping that we can feel somehow involved in a situation that occurred while we weren’t present to see it.
I think that the only way for people to understand the impact of gossip is for those same people to be gossiped about. That’s how I learned my lesson. Then and only then can those spreading “blind gossip” begin to open up their eyes and see the harm they create.
