Is Gossip a form of Bullying?

@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
March 12, 2013 11:52am CST
Gossip has been known to harm a lot of people,and often it isn't true. Do you consider Gossiping to be a form of bullying? I like the thought that we should never repeat anything we hear about another unless it's something that we would like to have said about us. Blessings.
3 people like this
16 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
12 Mar 13
How can gossip be bullying? You don't make anyone do anything or taunt them or anything directly when you gossip about them. Gossip isn't good, but it isn't bullying.
2 people like this
@neelia27 (896)
• Philippines
13 Mar 13
i remember during my college days i have a classmate that drop out of school because of some gossip going on in our class about her.. it is about her past... i feel sorry for the girl because i know she is trying to change to have a better future but because of her past that my classmates gossips about that she decided to drop out.. so i believe that gossip is a form of bullying.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Hi neelia, Thank you for sharing that story and I think it's a good example of the point that I'm making here. Blessings.
@vexxus (712)
• Philippines
13 Mar 13
That is a very bad outcome of such nonsense Gossip, hope this kind of people change their way on how to treat story, and respect for the privacy of other people.
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
12 Mar 13
The Police will canvas a community,after a crime has been committed, to glean the feeling of the neighborhood to perhaps help solve the crime. They are gathering gossip in the hope that it might contain some truth, so gossip can have its place. Bullying on the other-hand is indefeasible and has no place in society.
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@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Hi barehugs, An interesting way of looking at gossip, thanks for sharing.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Blessings.
• Mexico
24 Mar 13
Hi Pose: I must recognize that I usually don't see this scenario like that. However you are right on your point of view, specially because words can actually harm people as violence and gossiping is a terrible way to destroy someone reputation and confidence so I agree with your point of view. ALVARO
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Hi starsailover, Many people have never thought of gossip as a form of bullying but I feel that it is. I have seen so much harm caused by gossip. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
@spicymary (558)
• Romania
12 Mar 13
It's related to freedom of expression. It's not pleasant and it's not moral, but it's natural and happens. I wouldn't say it's like bullying, which is about intimidation and the explicit goal to build a power relationship with the victim.
1 person likes this
@aconno (20)
• Canada
9 Apr 13
as a victim of gossip i can strongly testify that gossip is in fact bullying. i define bullying as any form of humiliation or mistreatment. it can hurt to hear rumors about you flying around that are not even true, its even worse when somebody doesn't believe that your telling the truth about the rumors being false because "the majority says its true" or "I heard from a reliable source" trust me its terrible because you feel so helpless.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
9 Apr 13
Hi aconno, Thank you for sharing your experience and I agree with you. I too know what it's like to be a victim of gossip. Even time does not erase the hurt because some people always prefer to belief the worse. Blessings
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
14 Mar 13
Yes I think it is and also People trying to make out they know more then what they do Boredom is another Reason for People gossiping We have the Incident here right now......Last Year in October there was a big Fire which killed the Wife and 5 Children, it is only round the corner from me it was shocking, tonight they are reconstructing the Scene for Crime Watch as no one has been found yet, the Husband jumped out of the Stair Window and I think it was planned that the Wife was going to throw the Children down and then she jumps the Fire was to fast but of course People now are saying how comes he got out and all this, they forget when he tried to get back into the House they held him back he was forced to watch his Family burn, both him and his Wife where Doctors here at the Hospital It makes me mad when People find the need to gossip
1 person likes this
@Mirita (2668)
• United States
12 Mar 13
I think that Gossip is evil because we are talking about someone who is not present. We need to learn to mind our own business and engage in assisting others instead of talking behind their backs. If I have something to say to someone, I will tell them personally. I never thought of Gossip as a form of bullying ,but it could be related to bullying since we are engaging in hurting people's feelings.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
21 Mar 13
Hi Mirita, Thank you for sharing and it's only recently that I've been thinking about this, but now I really do believe that it is a form of bullying and can do great harm. I do not engage in gossiping. Blessings.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
12 Mar 13
I do think that it is...and we also need to keep to ourselves secrets people share...too many times someone trust another to tell them something they need to share. That isn't something that should be passed on but I don't know how many times I have had someone say to me.....I am not supposed to tell anyone but I can tell you....then they procede to tell me something very private about the other person.....and yes..when you spread gossip it hurts the person that everyone is talking about and that my dear is bullying!
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Jillhill, Thanks for commenting and I'm inclined to agree. Blessings.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
12 Mar 13
You can't go wrong with the old quote " Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Run your life by those rules and you will be a blessing to all.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
21 Mar 13
Hi savypat, Thank you for coming here and you know that I can't disagree with that quote. Blessings.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
13 Mar 13
I do believe that gossiping can be another form of bulying. Gossiping may not be a physical torture but it can definitely be an emotional one. They can both hurt the innocent and there i o way of taking bullying or gossiping back once it is out there. We have to take care in how we treat one another and what we say about each other. Words can hurt as much as anything else.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Hi sender, Thank you for responding and we agree. Blessings.
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
13 Mar 13
Now that I think about it I would say yes. I am like you, always say something nice or don't say anything at all.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Thank you Velvet. Blessings.
@vexxus (712)
• Philippines
13 Mar 13
I do believe that Spreading Gossip is a form of Bullying, It is even worst than physical bullying because the person involve doesn't have any idea that he or she is the subject, and then one day her friends can turn against him/her. This type of bullying is very dangerous because everybody can accuse you of something you don't even do, and false information can spread that has the ability to jeopardize your character and also career, imagine that some one is envy at you and then he/she just spread nonsense gossip and can destroy your image as citizen.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Hi vexxus, Thank you for sharing and I agree gossip is a terrible crime. Blessings.
• United States
14 Mar 13
I agree with you Pose. I've never thought if it as bullying, but it is indeed harmful. The way I see it if someone gossips TO me they will gossip ABOUT me. The thing about gossip is that the one being talked about often can't even defend themselves, so yes. I think it is bullying in a secret sort of way.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Hi PointlessQuestions, Thank you for commenting and we agree. Blessings.
• Philippines
12 Mar 13
For me, bullying is anything that can hurt physically or emotionally. If gossiping can hurt you in anyway, then, it can be a form of bully. Technically, don't be so affected in gossip. You are the very first person who knows yourself. So don't let that affect your doing and everyday activities because it's not a good practice.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
12 Mar 13
Hi borgieboy, Thank you for sharing and you are right, it is best to ignore it as it people tend to forget it. Some people find it hard to ignore however and it just gets worse if you allow it to upset you. Blessings.
• United States
12 Mar 13
I definitely think gossiping is a form of bullying. Words spreads fast and it will almost always get back to the person you are gossiping about and it will still hurt the, in the same way bullying them to their face would. There are too many gossips in my family and I think it's ridiculous. I try to stear clear of them.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
12 Mar 13
Hi ambull, Thank you for your comment and I too think it's a form of bullying. Blessings.