WE SPEND 52 MINUTES A DAY GOSSIPING

A new study from the University of California/Riverside looked at gossip. The study defines gossip as simply talking about someone who isn’t present. That talk could be positive, neutral, or negative. The study took 467 people and gave them a portable listening device to record what they say throughout the day. The conversation was then analyzed by research assistants. Here is what they found:
– People gossip 52 minutes a day on average.
– Women don’t engage in “tear-down” gossip any more than men.
– Women gossip more than men, but only about neutral, information-sharing information.
– Almost three-fourths of gossip was neutral. Negative gossip was twice as prevalent as positive.
– Younger people are more likely to gossip negatively than their older counterparts.
– Gossip overwhelmingly was about an acquaintance and not a celebrity.
* Sorry, Kardashians, no one is talking about you.
* Another important result – everyone agreed that Kristi in the Vice Chancellor’s office is sleeping with the Director of Admissions.
* A portable listening device to secretly record conversations. Y’know – like Apple does with your iPhone.
* The worst part was, all 467 participants walked out of the room and immediately started talking bad about the researchers. That hurt.
* 52 minutes a day seems kinda low. I mean, we sit in this room 180 minutes every morning trashing people who aren’t here.