by Lana Evans

Created on: October 02, 2007

If we're dividing the tattletale from the gossip entirely, assuming that neither has any of the others traits, then it is the pure gossip who is most hurtful and damaging. Tattletales, on the other hand, are usually just confused about how to get brownie points.

Gossips and tattletales are both seeking ways to get attention. Neither of them necessarily desires to create trouble. But there are the species of both, gossips and tattletales, who really get a bizarre and unhealthy euphoria from planting dirty little seeds of trouble and watching them grow like a Chia Pet.

The gossip is the more evil of the two. She (I'm only simplifying the pronoun here) consults with her network of meanies who enjoy not only eating up her gossip but also spreading it as well. The gossip and her little band of chatterers often distort the truth in some way, shape, or form. On occasion they have the gull to invent entirely false information. Since they are unethical, they usually have a host of other nasty habits, which makes one hate them more in their self righteous glory. And the number one worst thing about a gossip is how they butter-up their audience with flattery and such, giving an award-winning false impression of themselves that gets them creditability from even the people we look up to at work. Then, those otherwise cool people are seen laughing with the gossip. A gossip is a powerful creature. She can corrupt almost anyone she chooses and ruin you entirely amongst your own peers.

A tattletale, on the other hand, only communicates with the "gods" that preside over everyone. She is subject to being gossiped about. And even non-gossips can join forces amongst themselves in regards to this mutual enemy. She is not easily overcome. However, bosses will often recognize that she just likes to tell on people and after several encounters with the tattletale a boss will cease taking her seriously. The boss often just tolerates a tattletale. But even if the boss takes her seriously, then that boss might discipline you, but won't ruin you among your peers. If anything, some of your co-workers might come over to give you support after you've been chewed out. Then you can all give the tattletale a cold, hard look together; chances are, she's told on your peers in the past, too.

Choosing between a tattletale and a gossip boils down to choosing your extended enemies at work. I'd rather have a boss give me a hard time then have a whole band of peers give me a hard time. Everyone knows that an important factor in liking a job is the people we have to work with day in and day out. Furthermore, it's not up to you whether a gossip will pick you at random to be her next victim. But it is up to you to avoid attention from a compulsive tattletale; either don't break the rules or at least keep your distance. If she she makes up lies to tell on people, then she no longer is a tattletale; she's then a gossip!

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