Re: Gossip LO370
Bill Weber (bweber@umce.umext.maine.EDU)
Thu, 9 Mar 95 8:27:44 EST
I have been reading the posts re gossip and need to express some concern
about this form of communication. I find that gossip in the organizations
in which I have worked has had at least two functions, one marginally
helpful and one leading to, breeding, and reinforcing mistrust and
misunderstanding. I would agree that some conversational gossip may be
contribute to my understanding of an issue, decision, or action, and maybe
I can learn something of the norms and culture in my organization.
However, I find most gossip, including my own, to focus on a third party,
be that an individual or group(management or workers). So I am talking
about someone but not to that individual, setting up the kind of triangle
that creates victims, rescuers, and judgers of all who are in the
triangle. Incidentally, the Drama Triangle, as I know it, was designed by
Steve Karpman about 25 years ago. I gather that he was known as a
Transformational Analyst when he created this model of behavior. Anyway,
it is this gossip which I find destructive of relationships, partly
because I cannot work on a relationship indirectly. I find this pervasive
in all sytems-family, work, clubs, churches. I am convinced that this a
major barrier, so while I might learn something about myself in looking at
my participation in gossip, I think gossip is essentially
counterproductive.
Bill Weber
bweber@umce.umext.maine.edu