How to shut up people who gossip !!!!!!

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A very wise person swears that printing out the following and posting it around the workplace will drastically cut down gossiping and backbiting, or at least tick them off:

Great people talk about ideas.

Average people talk about things.

Small people talk about other people.

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It reminds perpetrators that their poop does indeed stink.

My favorite tool for getting out of a gossip-fest when I "stepped in" one:

my watch.

So, like in the great examples above, a fine and normal conversation takes a turn for the gossipy. I know I've done it, and I've had it done to me. The key to growing as a person is recogizing when this has happened and GET OUTTA THERE FAST.

So, the gossip starts flowin', or somebody says "She TRIES to be a good nurse, BLESS HER HEART!!", then you, with whatever degree of alarm you deem appropriate, look at the watch on your arm and say "Oh, I gotta go."

No explanation necessary, you didn't lie, you didn't offend. Conversation over.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
It doesn't seem to me to be less small of spirit to sit up on a high horse and judge another's behavior by using pejorative terms than it is to engage in gossip.

Completely agree.

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The irony of this thread is the fact that it appears to me to be a self-congratulatory mutual admiration society, populated by obviously morally superior beings, who relish discussing the faults and deficits of others with scathing terms and descriptions.

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
Completely agree.

Hmmm... I hope you still agree after I edit this to say I don't consider it any LESS small of spirit....which is what I meant to say...:lol2:

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In short, there are many other threads on this discussion board that DO discuss ideas and not people. Just a thought. :idea:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Hmmm... I hope you still agree after I edit this to say I don't consider it any LESS small of spirit....which is what I meant to say...:lol2:

yep;)

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Those of you who have complained about the OP's word choices have made your feelings abundantly clear.

Further discussion needs to focus on helpful ways to curtail gossip.

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
After posting, I did try to change the title, but it only let me change the subject in the initial post.

You've never heard of a gossip hag? Trying to nitpick?

Hmmm...

Great people see the goal/main idea and strive toward it.

Small people nitpick, whine, and otherwise trip up progress.

And with this post, you are doing exactly what you preach against.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Won't be coming back to this thread again.

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
LOL... if someone posted that at work, it'd get torn down and thrown away. Just as gossip drives some people crazy, so does what comes off as the superior attitude of others who see fit to post notes all over the place. Although gossip has never been the topic of these note posters where I work, I routinely take down notes and throw them away. This is a place of business and they look unprofessional and tell our visitors far more about us than we want them to know.

My thoughts exactly. (And I've done the same thing, too!)

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.

Well allrightythen, I consider myself told.

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Specializes in GERIATRICS, DEMENTIA CARE, MED-SURG.

It's all about give and take. Never do tooo much of wither. Balance is key.

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