Social Satisfaction From Gossiping

Gossiping can be tempting for reasons such as the social satisfaction people derive from it.

Enjoying a conversation is not wrong in itself, but gossiping is doing wrong by someone for social satisfaction. 

Christians,

Gossiping can be very tempting for many people. A major reason for it is social satisfaction.  A person who gossips says something that other people find interesting, and this gives them satisfaction because of the attention, the eye contact, and the enjoyment from conversation it gives them.

Enjoying a conversation is not wrong in itself, but gossiping is doing wrong by someone for social satisfaction. When you gossip, you are often pointing out a problem someone has, or you think they have, but you are not trying to help them.  If anything, it often hurts them by embarrassing them, etc. if what you have said or the consequences of what you have said reaches them.

It is important to look for topics of conversation that do not use people’s problems or supposed problems for social satisfaction.  Of course, it is key to be careful not to engage in gossiping when someone else tries to draw you into it as well.  If you are having trouble evading a conversation, you can also try to make it a constructive one where you aren’t enjoying looking down on someone else’s problems from a lofty position.