Years and years ago, I asked my wife to stop telling things about her friends’ and coworkers’ private lives. She used to rattle off little tidbits to me such as, “X1 lost $12,000 in a telemarketer’s scam” or “Even though X2’s husband never takes his blood pressure medicine, his health has actually improved” or “X3 found out her son was taking drugs so she and her husband sent the boy to rehab, you should see how much it’s driving them crazy” or “I can’t believe that X4 can fit into her daughter’s clothes, she dresses like a teenager” or “X5 owns property in Alaska and showed me a picture of it today, the paint is the ugliest color I’ve ever seen and it’s chipping, too”, etc. Yawn!
I would ask her, “Why do I need to know that?” It got to the point that I finally put my foot down. I told her that I didn’t want to know anything about anyone’s private life or private affairs, especially when there was absolutely no reason I needed to have the information. It worked for the most part; nowadays when she forgets and starts one of her stories, I ask her, “Wait a second, is it something that I truthfully and actually need to know?”
Life is sooooooooo much more peaceful now.
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Well, for my part, I know many things that aren't my business, many of them I'd prefer not to know. I don’t care to know even more of them. Besides, if gossiping is wrong, there are zillions of non-gossip tidbits that she can discuss with her husband.
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That’s one of the many reasons I’ve never had a FaceBook account.
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SavvyAnsley 