It says right there in the About Me in my profile details. I hate gossiping, and talking about rumours. This ofcourse is related to people and social rumours, not such about Google or the tech world (talking about those is fun!). I really think its extremely shallow to talk about other people, and they do in their own time, how they behave with other people, and what are the latest things they have been upto. It just shows a severe lack of character, and the auntie-mentality (as I call it) in people. Those are best saved for 50 something ladies who have nothing better to do throughout the day but gossip and just ridicule people unfortunate enough not to show up for that meeting.

There's a nice story about Aristotle and his way of dealing with shallow talk by the three way filtering system. Once, he was entering his workplace when a man came running upto him, extremely out of breath. He started, 'Do you know the man around the corner just did?'. Aristotle thought for a second, and said, 'No, I don't. Do you know a man wastes 1/6 of his life discussing things which are of no consequence? So I've built this three filter system which will help me get rid of things which don't matter to me. I'll ask you three questions, and if it passes those, then you can tell me whatever you wanted to tell me. Now, does it have anything to do with me?'

The man, thought and said that it wasn't. Then Aristotle said, 'Ok, let's try again. Will it help me in any way?', to which the man again said that it wouldn't. Now, Aristotle took a deep breath and said, 'Ok, last question, will your information make me think any better of the man?', and the other once again replied that it wouldn't. Aristotle rose and said, 'Well then, if it has nothing to do with me, doesn't help me, and makes someone else look bad, then I'm not interested. Good day!', and he went inside. That, my friends, is true genius.

I use that filter system myself, most of the time, but usually I don't have to because people already know that I don't deal with gossip, and they refrain from telling me any nowadays, which I take as a really big compliment. Atleast, that way, when I talk people will know that I hold nothing but the truth, which is a great honour in itself. So do something about how people look at you, because at the end of the day, you can't live alone. You will be surrounded by people all your life. Intelligent people, talk about ideas. Shallow people, talk about other people. Which one are you?