"Gossip, even when it avoids the sexual, bears around it a faint flavor of the erotic"

This quote by Patricia Meyer Spacks recommends that gossip, even when it does not include sexual subjects, still has a hint of the sensual. This could be analyzed in a couple of ways. Firstly, it might mean that gossiping is a kind of flirtation, as it includes people sharing intimate information about their lives and relationships. Secondly, it could mean that gossiping is a form of voyeurism, as it includes individuals listening to and discussing the private lives of others. Last but not least, it could imply that gossiping is a type of power play, as it includes people attempting to get control over the narrative of another individual's life. In any case, this quote suggests that gossiping is not as innocent as it might seem, and that it brings with it a specific level of sexual energy.