Why Gossip Thrives in America

Every grocery store or convenience store that you walk into in America has some kind of celebrity gossip magazine straight and center by the checkout. The reason for this? Americans just can't pass up knowing other people's gossip. Americans are in love with celebrity gossip. There are more celebrity gossip magazines sold than just about any other type of magazine.

Celebrity gossip magazines give Americans a little break from their own lives. There's no mention of the war or struggling economic times, just who is dating who in Hollywood and who forgot to put underwear on before heading out to the clubs. Celebrity gossip allows a person to take some time away from their own daily life and the stresses that they may face to just relax and enjoy some entertaining news. With so much that is going on in America today, people need a getaway and celebrity gossip is one major getaway that people use. Even if it is only a half hour that the person gets to break free from their own life and into the world of celebrity gossip, it's enough time for that person to set their mind at ease.

The love of gossip may actually be something that every person is born with. If you were to visit a preschool or an elementary school classroom, beyond a doubt gossip would be found even at such a young age. This love of gossip continues and grows as people get older. When Americans find that their life may be boring or difficult, why not make it more exciting? By reading celebrity gossip magazines it almost makes people feel like they know the celebrities and are privy to their secrets. Basically, it makes people feel like they are accepted and part of a group. Some Americans may even think that they personally know these celebrities because of all the gossip they read about them.

Also, when someone has inside knowledge about some celebrity gossip, they can be perceived as "cool" to their friends. They know something others don't. Then, they pass on the gossip to their friends, hoping to impress them. If you were to sit in on a group of women eating lunch together, one of the topics that is sure to be brought up is some kind of celebrity gossip.

Many Americans may look at celebrities as people with power. In fact, many Americans can better identify who Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are over who the secretary of state is. They want to know how the other half lives. Celebrities are portrayed as glamorous people who live some kind of extraordinary life. Regular Americans just want a glimpse into that life, mostly just for curiosity's sake. Celebrity gossip can actually make a person more thankful for what they have. Who would want to be followed by constant paparazzi and have their secrets written all over the covers of celebrity gossip magazines? The average American can get a nice, fun read with celebrity gossip, and then return to their "normal" life and see how good they may actually have it.