What Is Neurodiversity?

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Gossip has historically served a social purpose.

Neurodivergent people may be the subject of gossip because of their conditions.

Small talk and gossip are often of little interest to those who prefer deep interactions.

Respecting differences can help avoid misunderstandings and misrepresentation.

I do not like gossip, and many of the people that I work with feel the same way. I find it cruel, cowardly, immoral, and boring. Over time and through research, I have come to understand that gossip has served quite an important purpose in communities, as it purportedly aids social cohesion, bonding, and is used as a social resource (Chiel and colleagues, 2026; Driel and Verkuyten, 2022). Researchers have more recently associated it with reputation management, and that has evolved more as a self-protective social mechanism (Pan and colleagues 2024). I do not believe that is how it is most used today; I think it makes people feel better about their lives and distracts them from their own failings and inadequacies.

Gossiping is an activity that many people who are neurodivergent struggle to engage in or care about. For this reason, as a result of gossip, we can be vulnerable to smear campaigns, bullying, and sometimes alienation from groups, communities, and organisations.

Gossip is when people talk about the lives of others when they are not present, whether it is factual or not. The absence of the subject means they are unable to........

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