by Diane Jaramillo

Created on: December 15, 2009

The tattle tale is more annoying by far than the gossip. Telling the gossip to shut up generally offends only one person: the gossip. However, telling a tattle tale to shut up offends not only the tattle tale, but the one they tattle to. After all, if somebody wasn't listening, they wouldn't be tattling.

Two people benefit from tattle tales. The first, the one who does the telling, benefits because someone is finally paying attention to them. The second beneficiary, the one to whom the tattling is done, benefits because they know what is going on before anyone else does, and can move to counteract any perceived threat or can merely bask in the glow of appearing omniscient.

Only one person ever truly benefits from gossip: the gossip themselves. They benefit due to the attention they are getting by spreading rumors, and in some cases, downright lies. Of course, there is always a downside. The enmity incurred is oft times disproportionate to the severity of the rumor/lie. The gossip will sometimes become the subject of rumors themselves.

The gossip is easy to spot. They don’t try to hide. They are what they are, and darned proud of it, too. They see nothing wrong with telling everybody’s secrets to the world.

The tattle tale is harder to spot. By definition, they must be sneaky in order to be a successful tattle tale. After all, once they are found out, they are never invited into an inner circle again. People are more watchful of them, and they find less opportunity for information-gathering if they are a known tattle tale.

Gossips can often be useful. If you want to disseminate information amongst the group without having to actually speak to each member, simply tell the gossip. Usually, within fifteen minutes, everyone will know whatever it is you had to say, and you didn’t have to do any of the work!  However, beware, because once you utilize the gossip, they are in your business FOREVER!

Tattle tales, on the other hand, are not useful. They are merely annoying and irritating. After all, if someone is tattling TO you, can you really be sure they aren’t tattling ABOUT you?

Of course, the same can be said of gossips, can't it?

Neither tattle tales nor gossips are to be trusted, however. There is a fine line between the two and it is very easy to cross.

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