Saturday, February 26, 2005

about gossip

After reading Toonguy's comment on my last entry, I wonder:   Was I gossiping there?  (Not that I don't ever gossip, by the way... I'm human.)  I don't tell you what town I live in, and I didn't mention names, except one first name, so my kids would know who it was.  Anyhow, I was not trying to spread gossip.  I was trying to let people who live in big metropolitan areas know the kind of thing that makes news in a small-town community.  If that came across as petty gossip, I apologize to the J-land community.

People living in the city have to gossip about their co-workers, and things going on at their jobs, since they don't know their neighbors.

Remember the immortal words of Kris Kristofferson:

"Everybody's gotta have somebody to look down on... who they can feel better than at any time they please.   Someone doin' something dirty decent folks can frown on.  If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me!"

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just love your little stories and your pictures of your wonderful town. I miss that small town life. Our neighborhood once had a touch of small town ways. All our neighbors knew each other, we never locked a door, our kids could come home and know they could go to any neighbor if their parents were not home. It was a warm safe feeling. I loved your story about the gossip it rings true of every town one way or the other. Of course we have no idea who it is your are talking about so that gives us the fun of fitting names and places to your characters. You paint such wonderful pictures in your writings Mo, Bob and I look forward to your journal as we did your daily poems. Its a blessing to many I am sure.

Anonymous said...

OH, no, it was my gossip graphic too wasn't it?  I'll have to go back and read Toon guy's comment.

I hope you know I only meant to be funny by sending the "birds of a feather gossip together" graphic in email.  I thought that graphic was sooooooo funny but I didn't want to use it in my journal in case it looked like I was promoting gossip so I sent it to you since you spoke of life in the country where everyone knows everyone's doings.  

We all have to 'report' on the "goings on" of others.  It doesn't have to be gossip.
Knowledge might be a better word - LOL!

Anonymous said...

Probably was a bit of gossip in your entry.  I don't think it affected most of us but Toon felt it hit home (and rightfully so)   If you have been a victum of small town gossip it hurts.  I grew up in a small town too and there was many a time it put me off church because the "good going " church people left their intentions of Christian living at the door after church on Sunday. I don't think your intention was to hurt anyone.  Love your journal :).  

Anonymous said...

Gossip holds us accountable!  Whenever we "gossip" about the other guy, we do so with full awareness that they also know ALL about us.  Everyone in a small town expects "town knowledge" to be an intricate thread running through the fabric of our community.  Even though we dissaprove of the terrible things people do (she really shot him?) we learn through gossip to love one another in spite of our many faults.  The faults of others causes us to look more closely at our own.  Only when you recognize a fault can you begin to change it.  It's that "what will people think" thing that helps keep us honest.  Love your journal--Love your personality--Love your view of life--  Toonguy might have seen a few feathers fall from your angel wings but I'm sure he knows they will grow back.  There are probably others that felt the same as he but were not brave enough or did not trust you enough to let thier feelings be known.  The respect he has for you is quite heartwarming.

Anonymous said...

I didn't think  you  sounded gossipy. In fact you very well represented the way it is in small towns.    My in-laws live in an area which is so much like you described.  I am constantly amazed at the extent all of those people (not intended in a negative way)  will go to impart gossip about people in the community - and if you happen not to know that particular person, they will spend ten minutes explaining who they are so you can make the connection with someone you DO know.  I know tons of gossip about people I have never met and never will.  It makes me feel so suffocated.  I could never live there.  (Not that I also never gossip, being human also, but small communities take it to new level -- even an art-form)

Anonymous said...

Sounded fine to me. As for it being gossip then I guess we are all guity of it. Anytime we talk about anything that we are not personally involved in could be considered gossip. AND if we ARE involved it could still be considered gossip. Just saying o my gosh so and so broke their leg. Well techincally that is gossip. Even if you add "what can we do to help?".

Anonymous said...

You do your thing, don't worry about nothing, you're fine. rich

Anonymous said...

You know, after reading your entry, I felt a little wistful, remembering the small town in Mexico that I left just half a year ago.  I know they gossio, but the also hold each other up when times are tough.  I don't think you need apologize for anything.