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by kitty loves you on November 16th, 2006

kitty loves you

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Why do people love to gossip?

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  • by Im Alec has abandoned this account on November 16th, 2006

    Im Alec has abandoned this account

    To answer this fully, I would refer you to the book "Grooming, Gossip, and the Evolution of Language" by Robin Dunbar, which which I agree 95%.

    However, I'll give you the short form. Humans are the most interdependent of the complex species. A human left on their own, not only without society, but without the products of society, is extremely vulnerable. I ti only by gathering together that humans can survive. Particularly, the long period of vulnerability of human children means that they *must* grow up in a social group.

    But a social group of the human style has long-term debts, obligations, friendships and enmities. Particularly because humans have non-perishable goods which one can call "capital". The gnu killed today must be eaten today. But the cloak woven this week can be traded next ween and traded again the week after.

    All of which gives the opportunity of lying and cheating. I can ask you for a share of your gnu this week, promising a share of my gnu next week - and then break my promise and give it to that beautiful girl over there. And without words, you have the choice of fighting me now (but I am bigger than you) of resentfully putting up with it.

    But gossip sorts this all out. Suddenly, people can compare notes and find out the cheats. Without words, I can offer both Annabel and Belinda a haunch of gnu, and then imply we should go and make babies behind that bush. But if they talk to each other, or if they both talk to Camilla, they can detect my cheating ways and turn to David and Edward, who will remain faithful to them.

    So gossip is the glue which binds society together. Without gossip, we would have no way of knowing who was trustworthy and who not - so we would have to presume untrustworthy. With gossip in all its forms, we exchange notes and form a co0llective opinion of everybody else.

    The fact that an awful lot of gossip is about sex (in all its forms, including romance) just shows how important sex - or rahter, relationships - is.

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