Is there such a thing as good gossip? In the face of these horrendous stories of sexual abuse and harassment I’ve heard the argument, “How many women would have been spared the ignominy or trauma of an ‘inappropriate’ experience with (fill in the blank) if they had been warned about his behavior through gossip?”
I’m sure there are women who were spared because of gossip, not only in these horrendous situations we are hearing about now in the media but every day in small and large businesses across the country. I know I was. “Hey! Just a word to the wise, you don’t want to be the last one left at the bar with Bill after the office party tonight.” Or, “When you’re on this road trip with Steve, make sure you keep it really professional. Just saying.” So I did. After the first colleague left the bar, I was the second. On that road-trip when Steve suggested dinner together at the end of a hard day, I thanked him politely but said I had a work project that was overdue.
