Gossip: harmless fun or malevolent presence?

There is a saying that goes something like: ‘the one thing worse than being gossiped about is not being gossiped about at all’ and the wealth of gossip magazines, television shows and celebrity ‘blogs’ would certainly demonstrate that gossip is a multi-billion dollar industry, certainly within the world of ‘celebrity’ and entertainment. Indeed one man, Perez Hilton, has risen from obscurity and gained celebrity status and a net worth in excess of $30 million for creating a ‘celebrity blog’. This article considers the forms gossip may take and the role it has and does play in society.