Rather channelling Karl Polanyi there.
But mediated sexual gossip offers salacious details without genuine involvement in the complexities of the real, painful, human consequences.
His point that trade with people you know, with whom you have an emotional and ongoing connection, was better than trade through an impersonal and widely extending market. You can see elements of this idea in the writings of the nef and the pronouncements of Caroline Lucas.
You\’re making rather the same point. Gossip about the sex lives of those we actually know, to whom we have a direct connection, is simply human. But when divorced from those connections, it\’s all a bit icky.
Icky, indeed.
Sort of like this quote, from some unknown blogger, perhaps?
“Much to my bitter disappointment they don’t seem to have revealed who is the “prominent Yes to AV campaigner” who has been dallying with a woman not his wife.”
“Wiortings” is a excellent neologism though. I assume the meaning is something along the lines “economically illiterate drivel wrapped up in a media-friendly template”.
……Gossip about the sex lives of those we actually know, to whom we have a direct connection, is simply human. But when divorced from those connections, it’s all a bit icky……
Its probably better for society that we gossip about people who don’t actually live in our neighbourhood. Its less likely to lead to sorry endings.
Deoborah? You been employing Aussies, then?
P.S. Guido today has a headline referring to Balls and a Double Dip.