Usha Choudary: Are 'Gossips' Really Harmful

Here I have to quote the saying of Lok Satta Jayaprakash Narayan. A couple of days ago he said, "It is pity. The people are now more inclined to know whether so and so were jailed or not, whether so and so leader's son was given bail, has so and so given a right retort to his opponent….That's not right. They have to see how far their representatives are working for them and how far their money is being rightly utilized for the society".

So, as long as majority people live with this mindset, media compels itself to go as a business. It tries to entertain people than to educate. It keeps on publishing the headlines quoting the filthy language used by leaders. That may sound indifferent to media ethics. And as people are keen in knowing the inside stories and behind the scenes, media focuses on spy reports. That may sound like blackmailing the convicts. As people like to get entertained with hot stuff than news, media depicts film news from a different angle. That may sound disturbing the privacy for many.

'Gossip' is the word that turns the attention of many. Women, especially are the best gossip lovers and the market of magazines like Swathi is widespread with hot and gossiping stuff. Here I'm not supporting the gossips but only trying to mark a line of difference between good and ugly.

All gossips are not untrue. At the same time all untrue items are not gossips. There will be a few true ones which should be projected only in the form of Gossip. A gossip may be true or false but that makes rounds. Some gossips hurt people, some glorify and some entertain. As long as the gossips are entertaining and glorifying people would certainly enjoy it. Coming to the point of hurt, that depends on the minds of beholders. Couple of days ago there was a big gossip about Bipasha Basu's silicon transplantation. Should she get hurt by that? Or should she feel proud for media attention on her for silly thing? Once the people are in show business they are prone for both criticisms and praises. If they wish to have only praises, how far that is possible? A common woman feels bad if talked about her private assets. But Rakhi Swanth said in public that she wants to undergo upliftment treatment. A common woman gets hurt when talked about her 'pallu drop' in public. But Mona Chopra said that she is ready to show herself nude. So the word 'hurt' in heart is not common for all. It varies from profession to background to mindset.

What I opine is that gossips are good as long as they maintain the line of consideration. That shouldn't be very vulgar and at the same time shouldn't be published with unconditional hatred.