Gadianton wrote:It's more common amongst Mormons for a couple of reasons. First of all, given their limited entertainment, with bans on R-rated movies, plenty of PG-13 movies, and even the local gym, what else is there to do? Then, because of their "high standards" or strange expected conduct, it's more newsworthy when someone deviates from the "norm" and there is greater pressure to hide one's dark deeds.
Gadianton, I think you are right. The average church ward tends to be a very tight knit affair, and once you're a stable steady member, then you become fair game. I think converts are given good treatment to begin with unless they upset the apple cart in any way.
Actually, it was one of the things I was greatly relieved to be away from when I left full activity. If you dated someone and split up, you could bet the whole ward would be chatting about it. If you dated someone who someone else had dated...it got around. There was no privacy. I hated that aspect, and people meddled. If they thought you were dating someone who wasn't 'good enough' they'd let you know, and even try and intervene and so on. I dreaded it.
I think some gossip is harmless and some innocent, but there can also be malicious and destructive gossip, and gossip that is just darned right wrong... I knew which married couple were having certain sexual challenges, a single that was having a problem with masturbation, all because I guess the bishop had told his wife, or stake president in the case of the couple, who told others and it just got round. That's utterly wrong, wrong, wrong. The people involved were oblivious to the fact that there most intimate challenges were doing the rounds.
I think there also tends to be a lot of judgemental gossip....using the church to whip others...or to feel superior...
I'm not saying LDS aren't good people, but crikey lots of them (particularly the women I have to say) do seem to gossip...
Mary