Gossiping behaviour...

Hello Everyone

There is alot of gossiping going on in my program at school. It's causing me to be anxious and angry. I don't want to be the next person to be gossiped about.

How should I cope? Suggestions? Comments?

well, you could be the one who stands up for yourself and sweetly tells people you are not into gossiping because it hurts people.... plain and simple.

somehow, I believe this approach will get you a lot of respect, and while you may hear a lot less gossip, your brain and heart will be all the more better for it, you know?

I think you will do fine - I learned the best way to avoid an unwanted behavior and peer pressure (back in the day, lol) was to stand up and just tell it like it is - as non-judgmental as possible, so as not to offend, yet honestly, so as not to be wish-washy.

somewhere in your voice and heart, there is a diplomatic approach awaiting this very situation, and if you handle it now, it will not folow you around a lifetime - a long time of wishing you didn't play that game.

the best to you and your good standards!

peace,
night

xoxo

i couldn't agree more with what nightbird said.
i don't like to gossip either.
as for others perhaps targeting you next to talk about ..here's what works for me-as long as i know who I am it makes no difference what others say about me. yeah, some people could say well it still hurts, but if you know something is not true you can just let it roll off 'yer back. sounds like those people need something to do with their minds, IMHO...heheh.
you can just go and make it a great day for yourself.

Three cheers for each of the above posts! Couldn't have said it better myself!

((zen))) could not have said it any better than (((nightbird))))))

I also do not like gossip and I do not participate in it. Yes, I think that some people trust me and respect me because I don't gossip but also, every now and then, I feel a little left out. I don't want to be part of their gossip games but I still want to be a part of the group.

I have learned to be more of a leader of the group and be a little assertive about changing the conversation to a better topic. It is just my opinion, but I think some people gossip because they have poor communication skills and gossiping is easier for them than other types of conversations. So, if I lead the conversation a little bit it makes it easier for them to talk about things that are not gossip.

I think when there is a group of people who are all gossiping they tend to feed off each other and sometimes it is hard to get a word in on the conversation because people are so caught up in the excitement of the gossip. I worked in an office that was like that and I found out that it was easier if I talked with just one or a few of them at a time.

Zen, stick to what you believe to be right because in the long run the most important person you need to respect is yourself.