I truly never thought about this when I was a kid, surely no one really did, but now it’s a completely different world, especially in America. Have you ever not wanted to know what is going on in a co-workers life, a friend, or your neighbors business?

In our society today, we all must know what is going on in each others lives. It’s not so much a want, it’s a desire. There is a drive in all of us to know the secrets of our friends, family, and co-workers.

My wife has been teaching at a pre-school for the past 5 years and this is a melting pot for hot news. If someone has a misfortune of something happening in their private lives, especially if it may have scandal written all over it, it makes the weekly gossip headlines. If one of the teachers has done something to provoke others within the school and anger one of the other faculty members, it can be detrimental to their livelihood and psychological thoughts.

We, as Americans, have a drive for this sort of news. It’s a thirst, a hunger. So many people, mainly women, care too much about their personal image. When something is done in our personal lives that may cause some sort of life altering event, it becomes the chatter between friends, family, and co-workers

When did this start? In the past knowing everyone’s business was not so prevalent but after September 11th, 2001 that all changed. We seem to spy on each other, something the government has embedded in our heads. They tap our phones without our consent. They read our emails and track our Internet usage, and you never know that big brother is watching. I believe that when it leaked to CNN that our government was doing this and other things, that this is the starting point of everyone knowing each others business.

I know that this will just increase; dreaming for it to stop is just that, a dream. Just being friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers has flown the coop. Wanting to know everyone’s business is just part of everyday life, something that we are all just going to have to live with from now on.

Written by Mike Simonds - you can email me with any comments you wish