Hell, that is what community is all about. I wouldn't want to hear about it, and squareness has nothing to do with it.
Selfishness has a lot more to do with it.
Gossip is selfish and manipulative. It deflects everyone's attention away from issues that are common and of benefit to all of us, and focuses it on dealing with one bundle of insecurity who insists on devoting the whole list to her personal woes. Gossip is nothing but a control mechanism that robs us of dignity and humanity. Some of us have better things to do. Hey, we've all been there.