Men and Women Gossip Differently, Study Finds: Do You Gossip?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/05/29 21:18:00

Related Topics: Gossip, Friendship, Canada, Salary, Author, Physical, 2012, Salaries, Sad

694 votes
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	Yes	183 votes	26%
	No	198 votes	29%
	Sometimes	313 votes	45%

You won't be shocked to hear that women gossip more than men do. But you might be surprised to learn that when guys gossip, they do it a bit differently than the ladies.

Study author Dr. David C. Watson, an assistant professor of psychology at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada, found that women prefer to gossip about another person's physical appearance, the "Today" show reports. Sad, but true. They're also more likely than guys to partake in "social information gossip," such as who's dating whom.

So what do the dudes dish about? They are slightly more likely to trade "achievement related gossip," involving things like grades, salaries and social status.

And believe it or not, gossip can be good... for the guys, at least. Dishing the dirt was shown to have a moderately strong effect on male friendships, but turns out, it does very little for female friendships. Time to find a few new topics, ladies?

+14

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.: LiVi :. 2012/05/30 04:58:31

No

+8
Small minds talk about people.
Average minds talk about events.
Great minds talk about ideas.
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More polls by SodaHead Living

Rob Williams 2012/05/30 19:35:35

Sometimes

+2
Anyone who says they don't is either deluded, lying, or wilfully misunderstanding what gossip is.

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midnigh... to Rob Wil... 2012/05/31 01:04:36

some people just dont, its not in their system. and that is probably if they look at how bad they are, not how bad other people are.

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Honeybuns 2012/05/30 19:34:22

Sometimes

+1
Once in a while.And when i do gossip most of the time its something good about the other person.

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Royo 2012/05/30 19:19:14

Yes

+1
Well since most of my friends are girls, it's hard not to get into it.

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Sterling 2012/05/30 19:16:46 (edited)

No

+1
What you describes men doing is conversation, but gossip is shameful. I certainly dont talk about people behind their backs unless it is extremely relevant and pertinent.

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Jess 2012/05/30 18:59:53

No

+1
I grew up in a family that was always gossiping and trashing other people. I even heard some about me quite a few times. So, I personally don't do it in that way. I don't talk about people to other people and spill all their secrets. I know things about people I shouldn't know and it's just awkward sometimes. I don't think commenting on celebrities fits into the same category.

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darazan 2012/05/30 18:55:23

Sometimes

+1
I think everyone gossips sometimes. Telling Lucy something about Carol is considered gossip and unless you never share anything about anyone then you're gossiping, technically. Gossip is not inherently a bad thing, despite the connotation of the word. Telling Lucy that Carol is going on a date with John on Friday is gossip, even if that's all you say about it.

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RyanHayes 2012/05/30 18:55:03

Sometimes

+1
Just being honest

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Bob DiN to RyanHayes 2012/05/30 22:49:12

Wow and honest gossip.

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Howling Hank 2012/05/30 18:39:26

Sometimes

+1
Oh yeah.....but it's mostly listening to gossip...

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Tom Camfield 2012/05/30 18:34:20

No

+3
Not what I'd call gossip, at least. I don't mind exchanging bits of information--such as who's sick, who's returned to town . . . that sort of thing. What I would term "gossip" is pretty shallow stuff. I don't chatter on the phone and don't own anything that will "text."
E-mall's fine for exchanging information of any importance.

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Jess to Tom Cam... 2012/05/30 19:00:49

Yeah, that's not the same. If you're talking about someone returning to town and all the details of their personal life like if they're going through a divorce..Then that is gossip.

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sarah 2012/05/30 18:13:19

Yes

+1
I'm pretty sure that almost 100% of the people who said "no" are getting gossip confused with slander. EVERYONE gossips at some point. it's just talking about someone light-heartedly.

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bunny.elgato 2012/05/30 18:11:36

Yes

+1
Like an old church lady

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Christian 2012/05/30 18:10:05

No

+1
I hate gossip, gossip and judgement go hand and hand, "Judge ye hath ye be judged".
I dislike people that listen to other peoples conversation when eating in a restaurant.
People should mind their own business and not get involved with the lives of others.
People watchers are no better and the most annoying.

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darazan to Christian 2012/05/30 18:57:00

Yeah, but gossip and eavesdropping are very different. Gossip isn't necessarily speaking bad about someone. It's really just exchanging information good or bad.

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Bibliop... to darazan 2012/05/30 22:26:41

I eavesdrop all the time- but no one knows.

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darazan to Bibliop... 2012/05/31 18:07:01

I try not to. My brother-in-law does it all the time, then he'll just insert himself into your conversation very loudly because he's too lazy to get up from the other room. :)

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Christian to darazan 2012/05/31 02:09:27

I never liked gossip because judgement and gossip go hand in hand any way gossip is a women's thing, I am a man.

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darazan to Christian 2012/05/31 18:11:19

Gossip is really a social thing. It's not limited to men or women. As the article stated, men and women tend to gossip about different things. Women tend to talk about the more social aspects, and men about the more physical aspects (by way of sharing achievements). I try not to talk bad about people in general, though.

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Chris 2012/05/30 18:03:13

Yes

Constantly

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Michael 2012/05/30 17:44:23

No

+1
If someone wishes to repeat negativity that is their choice. I prefer to focus on the positive and will let people know that I am not really interested in listening to negativity.

Besides my friends and I are too busying enjoying each other's company then wasting our time talking about other people.

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Brenda 2012/05/30 17:42:08

Sometimes

+1
Is it gossip, if it' s true? And then, only if you give me something to gossip about.

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Tasinahri 2012/05/30 17:38:54 (edited)

No

+1
If someone wants you to know something about them, they will tell you themselves. It is not your job to go around telling people stuff about a person. Gossiping just ruins people.

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PeeDonkeyPit 2012/05/30 17:30:55

Sometimes

I think anyone that says they don't do not understand the term...

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Insanebane 2012/05/30 17:24:31

Sometimes

Sometimes, but I'm careful not to bash or defame people.
Gossip and rumors when twisted and messed up have
hurt and ended many solid relationships.

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MeganDew 2012/05/30 17:23:02

Sometimes

+1
I think virtually everyone does at one point at another, even if they don't quite realize it. It doesn't have to be as obvious as "did you hear?".
If I see or hear something wild...I'm going to mention it.
However, if someone tells me something in secret.....I'm taking that to my grave.

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TygaLuv XO :-* 2012/05/30 17:14:41

Yes

+1
All the time

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Ole SGT Joe 2012/05/30 17:13:08

No

+1
I would rather sit back and enjoy the show..........

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Nan 2012/05/30 17:09:02

Sometimes

+1
Just once in awhile at work.

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BellaLuna 2012/05/30 17:07:30

Sometimes

+1
Rarely

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M'lud 2012/05/30 16:56:48

Yes

+2
I make a resolution every new year to talk TO people instead of ABOUT them, but I always break it and I always feel bad about it.

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charles nelson 2012/05/30 16:55:58

Sometimes

+2
Like it or not, it's part of the human condition.

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charles... to charles... 2012/05/30 16:59:48

and I think when you get older, like me, you do it without even noticing, you old farts.

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Lindsey 2012/05/30 16:51:40

No

+1
I despise it, and I hate people that do it and do not even try to restrain themselves or think about what they're doing

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benjaminb007 2012/05/30 16:50:43

No

+1
More and more of my college buddies (guys) are starting to gossip. They're not just talking, they do it with intent to defame or slander the other. I used to think only girls do that until I went to college. When I was growing up, gossiping was something that was frowned upon, so it's uncomfortable for me to listen to guys talk about other guys in ways that damages that person's characters. And the worst part is they pretent to be "friends" when the person is around.

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bye 2012/05/30 16:48:44

Sometimes

+1
I try not too

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KrSpo 2012/05/30 16:38:29

Sometimes

+1
It is an American past time.. Why not..

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Kirbyderby to KrSpo 2012/05/30 16:52:37

+1
Because it's dishonest, hurtful, and mean...

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KrSpo to Kirbyderby 2012/05/30 18:39:59

If is the truth, it is not dishonest. It is not mean nor hurtful if it is truthful and without malice. It is simply the truth.

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