How many people have said this at some point in their lives?
This statement is, to me, an attempt to change something that's ingrained
in our nature. We love to talk about what other people are doing. From
who's seeing who to who's got health problems, people love to talk
about it. Asking someone not to talk about others, not to communicate
ideas and relationships, is like asking someone not to breath. The
phrase arises because we fear something bad might be said about
us. But so what? People will say bad things about you, they'll say
good things, they'll say things that aren't either. But people always
talk about other people. It's the foundation of gossip, and of
news. It's human nature.