Week 12 Patrick Chou The Power of Gossip
Rumors. Gossip. Drama.
We often see tv shows and movies depict gossip as something that can ruin a person's life. From whispered conversations in corners to the comment section of social media, gossip draws a lot of individuals into its fate. But what power do rumors have?
Gossip, is often viewed as a social bonding mechanism, fostering the exchange of narrative about others within social groups. However, under the surface many lies interplay into the power dynamics. Contrastingly, rumors represent manifestations of uncertainty and ambiguity within societies. Flourishing in environments where there is a desperation for information, thus the raising of lies often to serve to a specific group's agendas.
The influence of gossip and rumors can extend beyond interpersonal relationships. For example, in politics rumors can sway the public opinion which thus affects the broader scope of elections. Moreover, in the age of digital media, the consequences of gossip and rumors are thus amplified.
Moreover, in the realm of celebrity culture, gossip and rumors wield the shaping of public perceptions. for instance, the aggressive fascination with the personal lives of celebrities, where gossip columns and paparazzi thrive on rumors. Whether it's speculation about rumored romance or the latest celebrity scandal.
Int this new world of entertainment and celebrity culture, gossip and rumors are persuasive, shaping the conclusion of public perceptions. So, this raises the question, how do we harness the power of ethical and critical thinking in order to combat the noise of speculation?
For a more scietifical explanation of why people gossip: click here
Hi Patrick! The natural human tendency is to be social and interact with others in a social setting, sometimes even behind their backs. This quality that some have may be frowned upon and categorized as harmful gossip; however, people inevitably change their outward persona in the presence of some, differing based on the company that surrounds them. The natural human will to gossip stems from our reliance on a need for entertainment that transcends other limitations with ethical concerns of talking about someone behind their back. In each individual, the reliance on either entertainment or ethical worries is visible in their ability to gossip about their acquaintances without remorse.
ReplyDeleteGossip should not affect political decisions, no matter the interpersonal implications that it can have. Privacy should be respected and a personal-professional boundary must be maintained in the lives of politicians and celebrities. The value of a politician should be determined based on their service to the country and the community, rather than personal details that may overshadow the support they have garnered thus far. I admire your use of short sentence structure to be direct in the claims that you make of gossip being destructive to human relations. Using rhetorical strategies and questions throughout the text augments the argument to include the audience’s reflection on whether such gossip is relevant in the context of our society.
Hey Patrick, I totally agree with you on how gossip is super powerful. To me rumors can change a personals whole life, it can turn them into an outcast and everything. Nowadays, we never call it gossip but we call it "tea". In school, once the "tea" goes around everyone will either approach you or distance themselves. This depending on weather that "tea" was something positive or negative. If it was something good, everyone will approach you and start congratulating or start to be nicer towards you. However, if the rumor had a negative connotation, everyone will avoid you. They will "side eye" you, judge you while you are walking and more. They won't want to be in the same group as you and try to push you away. This can lead to that person having a bad reputation, and when word spreads around, it can lead to them having to leave school. Rumors is something very powerful, and honestly I try to avoid it at all cost now.
ReplyDeleteHey Patrick,
ReplyDeleteGossip, like you said, is very powerful, but I also think there's a different kind of power in the people who hear the gossip and choose to listen to it. Rumors are like the weapon in the hands of the people. What really changes political opinions, as you explained, is rumors, but at the same time it's the people who choose to let those rumors affect their opinions. Rumors also spread through the people and the more people that share the information the more power the rumors gain. Your blog really made me consider whether rumors are the ones with the power or the passing of those rumors from person to person is what helps them gain power.
Hi Patrick. I think it’s a little unusual how movies always seem to portray gossip as this large societal specter that only causes trouble for everyone. However, it’s unique how you say that gossip is a way to bond socially; I find that gossip only allows some people to interact with each other, as gossip usually initiates the spread of rumors. Also, I enjoyed how you brought up how gossip plays a significant role in the world of celebrities. I have noticed how a lot of news regarding celebrities shows many unnecessary details that most people aren’t very concerned about, yet media outlets love spreading misinformation about public figures, as it creates drama that only a few people seem to actually want to hear. You bring up an important question about how the ethical and rational aspects of gossip can be utilized to lower the downsides of it. Personally, I believe that a shift toward focusing on learning all the facts before arriving at a conclusion enables a better understanding of people and events related to those people. I hope we can see some change in how gossip spreads and is dealt with in the future, especially in places with large social circles.
ReplyDeleteHey Patrick, I do agree that gossip is a leading aspect of our society today. Rumors spread quickly and can alter someone’s life in an instant. The simple words said by one person can alter the opinion of an entire group such as in a classroom setting. Like you said, in a political setting, any rumor spread can alter the general public opinion towards a candidate. In any election, political or not, anything said with confidence can be perceived by the public as true and will make or break the outcome. I feel that rumors mostly are negative but there are some that positively affect people in a way. Not really a rumor but if someone’s birthday is coming there could be a rumor going around about a way to surprise them and in that case, it is positive as on their birthday they will be happy with whatever surprise they receive. However, most rumors end up harming people and will give them a bad reputation in any closed environment (i.e school, work). Overall the power of a few words is crazy to imagine and spreading rumors should be avoided even if it is difficult.
ReplyDelete