What is Gossip?

What is Gossip?

Why don't we talk about others?

What is Gossip?

• When we gossip, we talk about people who are not there.

• Often, gossip tells negative stories about other people.

• Gossip is also called "talking behind someone's back."

Multiple Choice

A negative story about someone who is not here is called ___.

• Chatting

• Gossip

• Conversation

Multiple Choice

Bob and Tim are at lunch.

Bob says, "I watched a great movie last night."

This is...

• Gossip

• Not Gossip

Multiple Choice

Bob and Tim are at lunch.

Bob says, "At the movies, I saw Jean kissing Pat in the back of the theater."

This is...

• Gossip

• Not Gossip

Multiple Choice

Bob and Tim are at lunch.

Bob says, "I heard Jo is out today because they got COVID."

This is...

• Gossip

• Not Gossip

Multiple Choice

Bob and Tim are at lunch.

Bob says, "I am hanging out with Alex after school."

This is...

• Gossip

• Not Gossip

Why do people gossip?

• People feel important when they know something other people don't.

• Gossip feels okay because the person we are talking about isn't there to hear it.

• Saying negative things about someone else can help people feel positive about themselves.

Open Ended

One reason people gossip is...

Why is gossip bad?

• Most gossip is fake news. The story gets bigger and bigger as it spreads around, until it is almost totally made up.

• People feel hurt and sad when gossip is told about them.

• If you gossip, people will not trust you.

Multiple Choice

Most of the time, gossip is...

• Completely True

• Completely False

• Started true but ends up false

Multiple Choice

People who hear me gossip will think...

• They can't trust me

• I am a good source of information

Open Ended

When people gossip about me, I feel ____ because _______.

What should I do when I hear gossip?

• You need to decide if you will stand by or stand up.

• To stand up, say "That's gossip" or "I don't want to hear about that."

• Try changing the conversation to something else.

• If this still doesn't work, walk away.

Multiple Choice

Bob says to Tim, "I heard Josie got a nose ring last night."

Tim should respond...

• "Really? Gross."

• "I don't care."

Multiple Choice

Bob says to Tim, "Someone said Mitch got COVID."

Tim should respond...

• "That's gossip."

• "Oh no! What if he got me sick?"

Multiple Choice

Bob says to Tim, "I heard Rex and his girlfriend broke up. "

Tim should respond...

• "Yeah, I think she kissed somebody else."

• "Okay. Did you try the new Fortnite season yet?"

Multiple Choice

If someone won't stop gossiping, even after I tell them I'm not interested, I should...

• Hit them to make them shut up

• Walk away

• Tell them I don't want to be friends anymore

What should I do when someone gossips about me?

• Remember that people who gossip are looking for something else to talk about.

• If you have a big response, or try to fight back, you will start new gossip.

• The more you ignore the gossip, the faster it will go away.

Multiple Choice

If someone is gossiping about me, I should...

• Gossip about them

• Ignore it

• Tell them how upset they are making me

Multiple Choice

If I ignore gossip, ...

• It will go away more quickly.

• It will keep getting bigger.

Multiple Choice

If someone is gossiping about something dangerous, like beating someone up or bringing in a weapon, I should..

• Still ignore It

• Report it to a teacher

Open Ended

The next time a friend tries to gossip with me, I will _____.