To me gossip and snooping is something you do when you're so bored with your pointless and insignificant existence that you have to artificially invent interesting material to fulfill your daily quota of my-life-isn't-a-sitcom-but-dammit-i'm-trying. To me nosiness is stupid and pointless, on par with tabloids that don't even try to come off as plausible. Oh god, bat-boy is on the loose again? And someone found a mermaid in their tuna sandwich? And the flying saucers are causing a hike in income tax? Tell me more! This is important information! I think it's because I've so thoroughly realized from all the things I've read and learned that the truth really is so much stranger than fiction that I find this petty and inane babble to be a stupid waste of mental resources. Instead I'm far more interested in the drama inherent in history and the controversies surrounding technological advancement. It's kind of sad, in a way, because the same people that can only make their day pass faster by filling it with inane babble are the same that would find the history of politics so fascinating for just about any civilization of any era, and unlike the day to day drivel they fill their lives with they could actually gain perspective by looking back.
My mother was a horrible snoop when I was a kid. In 6th grade, I wrote in my journal about a girl I knew losing her virginity. I only vaguely remembered writing it, but I almost got my ass kicked when the girl found out. Apparently, my mom read the journal and she talked to my aunt, who talking to my cousins, who told the girl what I wrote and everyone thought I was a tattletale from that point on. So to all the parents out there, if you find something you don't like in your child's journal/Facebook account/ internet history talk to them about it. Don't spread it around because your kid is going to look like an ass.
All the old ladies in my grandmothers neighbourhood love me. Why? Cause I'll stop and talk to them on the street. Why you ask? Well because they love nothing more to do than gossip about people around them. I'm sure they probably talk shit about me too but this way I know who's in the closet gay and who is fucking around on their spouse and that's vital information to me. Right?
At work, if I get an offering memorandum in with names attached to it, I always do a quick linkedin/google search to get a general idea of who put together the deal I have to work on. Beyond the normal educational and work background info, I get a funny tidbit now and again. Pro-tip: don't get arrested in Miami-Dade county, because apparently they post mugshots online of everyone they book. I look up acquaintances backgrounds. If someone is going to put their whole life online, I might as well be armed with that info when I am talking to them. I'm also guilty of facebook creeping now and again. If a buddy mentions he's dating someone new, or one of my female friends has some new good looking friend I haven't met, you bet I'm creeping. The increased public awareness of privacy settings has dampened that a bit, though. I would never look through someone's phone, computer, or anything of the sort without permission though. That's not cool, and frankly, I think that we're better off not knowing people's private thoughts 99% of the time.
Moms. My mom isn't really nosey, just completely oblivious to the concept of privacy. She would never, ever knock on my door before coming in. Once, as an adult, I brought my girlfriend home for Christmas. One evening, as per usual she comes barging into our room to say something or other. Or she would have, only that I had locked the door. Most moms would probably get the meaning of that, but she was utterly confused and goes "What? Have you LOCKED the door? Why??". "Mom, I am twenty years old, and I am in my bedroom with my 19 year old girlfriend. Why do you think?" I love my mom, but God she can be clueless. As for me, I am not very guarded about my own privacy, but I am completely uninterested in others'. Not sure if that makes me respectful, or a narcissist.
Parental snooping is a completely different situation. My dad used to snoop and being a computer whiz, always found my hidden porn, even when it was in Sim City map folders and the like. Later I realized it was more to make sure my Mom and sisters never accidentally found it, cause that would be way more obnoxious of a situation to deal with. This reminds me of a debate in an HR class I had in grad school. My professor, who was terrible but thats besides the point, basically argued that Facebook was absolutely in play for judging candidates/employees and was saying that in advising a colleague about a candidate, who posted lots of pictures of their new puppy, to go in a different direction because it was "irresponsible use of social media." Now don't get me wrong, I think posting 75 pictures of little Fido is stupid and get similarly annoyed when my News Feed becomes a baby picture extravaganza, but that is your personal space. That should have no bearing if you get some marketing job. Thats like knocking an interview candidate because they like hiking and you had a bad experience with poison ivy. Maybe its a product of my generation but I just feel like that is nobody's business from a professional standpoint. Ive known plenty of people who got trashed on the weekends and may have pictures of them drinking on FB that were fantastic employees and ridiculously hard workers. And similarly teetotalers who were no fun in a social setting who were lazy as hell in the office. Myself personally, I'm not a snooper in relationships. Largely because I feel it leads to wandering thoughts and suspicions when there is nothing there. Early on, I snoop a bit, Facebook and whatnot, cause Ive gotten burned early on alot recently and I guess I like to know where I stand. But once there is anything "official", I don't feel any need anymore. But Facebook creeping on random people is a pretty awesome additive to watching TV.
On the other side of things, I've actually heard stories about financial sector firms and the like that Facebook-stalk potential employees to see if they're fun enough to work with. Seems to jive with the bro culture that permeates some of these places.