I came across a page on facebook called ‘Hey, I found your nose. It was in my business again’. It literally made my day. From as far back as I can remember, gossip was discouraged and we were always told to mind our own business. Some took those words seriously while others chose to continue with the habit. Not only have they continued with it, but they have also been deemed the 411’s by those who know them. Allow me to school the few of you who might not know what being the 411 means. It means you literally know everything about everyone! Who went where and when and with whom? Who said what to whom and why. Their stories are always well investigated so under no circumstance can a single word they say be misplaced. To put it in a more unswerving way, their gossip is nothing short of professional, or even artistic! These kinds of women have made everybody else’s business theirs. It has become a part of them no matter how bad they know it is. It’s really like a disease, the one that spreads on like the plague since one juicy rumor sparks off a fleet of others.Gossip meetings are even arranged, although they are sugar coated and called tea parties or get togethers. Yes, the tea might be there, but the essence of the meeting is the glorious gossip that follows.In every community around the globe, whether it’s sub-urban, America or the glossy streets of Paris and London to our very own humble towns and grass thatched cribs, gossip does exist. It sweeps through every nation and community like a tornado. It is primitive and inexcusable and should continue to be condemned or discouraged. Sure it cannot completely go away but if individuals were determined to not be a part of it, then this world would just be a better place. It is this same useless gossip that causes unwanted wrangles between people because they heard that a certain so and so said something unpleasant about them. The claws project and the weaves fly off! Then that gives the 411’s something else to talk about! The most shocking thing about it is that even the one thing you hid so well from the rest of the world, or so you thought, was eventually rattled out to the public! Call it magic or some kind of witchcraft but a true gossiper will stop at nothing to get a piece of ‘news’ even those skeletons that you thought were too far gone to ever return. So beware of the 411’s and try as best as you can, not to follow suit. There is nothing even remotely admirable about knowing everyone’s business. Get together and talk about issues affecting your community like the road that is a danger to you all or the weather that is so unpredictable or even Gadaffi’s problems! I can assure you it’s much better than sticking your nose in places it might one day not be able to get out of! rachelgaruka@yahoo.co.uk
