Have you noticed how gossipers tend to start conversations the same way? People who gossip use certain phrases to buffer their bad behavior.
People who gossip start conversations in much the same manner. They initiate conversations with either kind words or a sense of urgency. Even though gossiping is not a good thing to do, these individuals try to make you think the knowledge they are giving is important. Honestly, it’s a desire to bask in negativity.
People who gossip say these things
While a bit of gossip in passing may not be that harmful, it can quickly spiral out of control. People who gossip sometimes just forget that a real person is on the other end of their slander. They get carried away with using common verbiage to create excitement. They also understand that spreading rumors about other people garners them attention as well.
Here are a few of those common phrases you might hear from people who gossip.
1. “You won’t believe this!”
Those who spread rumors commonly start conversations with this phrase. It prepares the listener to receive personal and controversial information about another.
It’s not innocent information, and the courier of this information doesn’t pretend that it is. It’s a pretty straightforward admission of upcoming gossip. Most people who spread gossip use this phrase often.
2. “Spill the tea.”
This phrase is used by the listener. They already understand that rumors are spreading around, and they want the information. The information is “the tea”. Spilling the tea obviously means delivering the info to the greedy ears of those who want to hear it.
And if you’re being honest with yourself, you’ve wanted the tea to be spilled many times in your life.
3. “Just between you and me”
Is this true? Do you really want the information you’re about to give to be kept between just you and another person? Well, maybe sometimes you do. But here/s the thing, most times gossip will not stay between just two people. There’s an old saying that goes,
“If you tell another person, then it’s no longer your secret.”
However, people who gossip often say that it’s “just between you and me”. Whether they mean that or not, it’s probably going to spread like wildfire.
4. “Word on the street is…”
This phrase sounds dirty and degrading, to be honest. But people who gossip will start conversations like this to get your full attention. What they fail to realize is that “word on the street is…” sounds like the object of the gossip is out and about doing all sorts of wild and controversial things all the time.
Or, the person who gossips is maybe out on the street collecting information. And yes, it’s just a statement or “gossip slang”, but it says so much more than that.
5. “I don’t like talking about people, but…”
People who gossip fail to realize just how stupid they look when they say this. If they didn’t like talking about other people, they wouldn’t be spreading rumors at all. Be honest with yourself.
How many times do you go around doing things you don’t like and bragging about it? The truth is, people who gossip love what they do, and they often get to a point where they cannot even control their behavior. So, if someone you know is starting most of their conversations like this, they are probably bad news.
6. “There are rumors all over town.”
When someone says this to you, what’s your first thought? Do you assume they just overheard rumors from different sources around town? Or could they be the ones starting the rumors themselves? You can never be completely sure.
However, when someone comes to you and says this, it usually indicates they’ve been saying things like this for a long time. It’s probably become part of who they are. People who gossip have no problem blaming the whole town for their negative actions.
7. “Apparently…”
This simple word or phrase starter is full of implications. First, it suggests that the information the gossip spreader is about to share may or may not be true. It also indicates that they plan to tell you. For example,
“Apparently, Alice cheated on her husband with Rick.”
Even though the people sharing this info do not know if it’s true, the information has already become hot gossip. It will potentially spread widely and amuse the community. It’s truly sad what one little word can start.
Are people who gossip all bad?
According to studies about gossip and intentions, people who gossip do not see their top priority as trying to hurt people. They just like acquiring information about others.
However, this information, after spread, is what hurts people. So, intentions or not, gossip is not a good thing. Even though some things just start innocently enough, it’s never good to talk about another individual’s personal information.
People who gossip tend to do this every day, and it is simply a way of life for them. If you know someone who spreads gossip like this, it’s just smart not to share your information with them. Another old saying goes like this,
“If they talk about other people to you, then be sure that they talk about you to other people”.
I promise you they do.
And for the future, if you have become someone who gossips pretty regularly, I urge you to change your ways. Gossip hurts others, not only mentally, but can also hurt them physically. You don’t know what the information that you spread can do to others.
It’s best to just mind your own business. If you struggle with this addiction to gossiping behavior, practice keeping things to yourself when you hear the juicy gossip. It’s just the right thing to do.
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