Gossip: Good or Bad?

Gossiping is not always seen as something that is bad. It depends somewhat on how you define it and what perspective you take towards it. Gossip can be defined as communication about the doings, the virtues and vices of others. From this context anthropologists and sociologists often see gossip as providing the positive outcome of maintaining the unity, values, norms and morale of social groups. Gossip, then, is a censoring of inappropriate behavior, a way of ensuring conformance with group standards. One academic source I recently visited insisted, in fact, that it is nieve to view gossip as a destructive event.

With due respect to academics (I am one) and recognizing that there is a larger context within which to study the impact that gossip has on groups of various size, we are still left with the reality that gossip within an organization can be highly destructive and certainly demoralizing. We are also left with the question of whether the hurtfullness of gossip is a price that must be paid to ensure conformance with group norms. Are there not more constructive ways for the group to ensure adherance to basic values?

Paint me naive but I am convinced an affirming civilized workplace can be achieved without the presence of the dark side of gossip.