On the Subversive Power of Gossip — by Maria Tatar

[Welles]

I thought this was a brilliant take on a subject that is often disparaged. Here's the first paragraph...

Chatter, chitchat, gossip, idle talk, and conversation have always done deep cultural work for us, and today they continue to serve as sources of knowledge, helping us make sense of the world, providing opportunities for social bonding, and shaping our ways of understanding the values of the world in which we live. For centuries, philosophers condemned “meaningless talk,” excluding from their consideration bodies of conversation that take up personal matters and local affairs rather than large-​scale public issues.

On the Subversive Power of Gossip — by Maria Tatar

https://lithub.com/on-the-subversive-power-of-gossip/