BKQ told me about a cabinet minister’s divorce; he also revealed that another minister’s son had leukemia. He has a habit of raising an eyebrow and whispering “Have you heard the latest?” His greeting, when he meets anyone is “What’s happening?”
BKQ is the chairman of his own corporate advisory company, a retirement job after many years in the financial industry.
Yes, BKQ is male and an incessant gossip.
Most people think that women are gossips.
We couldn’t be more wrong.
Last month a survey in the UK concludes men are by far the worst culprits when it comes to gossiping.
A fifth of those asked said they spent at least three hours a day gossiping – mainly at work – with the main topics including women colleagues and who is in line for promotion.
One in 10 men like to dish the dirt on other people, compared with 4% of women, while more men than women are guilty of spreading rumors, according to the poll.
Some 55% of men said they gossiped at work, compared with 46% of women whose top topics were family feuds, followed by the latest storyline in EastEnders, a British soap opera, old school friends, fashion errors and what neighbors are like.
Among men the favorite subject is old school friends, then the sexiest girl at work, promotions, salaries, and finally their best friend’s conquest, the survey found.
At home, 17% of men confess they were more interested in pillow talk than sex, with only 10% of women saying the same. However, a fifth of girlfriends and wives said they preferred to gossip with a mate than their partner.
The poll of 1,033 adults was conducted across the UK.
It was carried out by BMRB Research on behalf of BT’s new Buzz-In facility, which allows up to 20 people to talk with one another on the same line at the same time.
David Sales, director of BT Conferencing, said “Our research shows that, as a nation, we’re fascinated with gossip, whether it’s about work, our love lives or the latest soap.
“Yet it’s men who are more likely to gossip the day away, dispelling the myth that women are the only ones who like to spend hours chin wagging.”
Whether in the UK or anywhere else in the world, the mindless gossip of men in high places can be more lethal than any other gossip.
So before you show off with some juicy information that you can’t wait to share, consider Rotary’s Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?