They are so pleased to find out other people's secrets. It distracts public attention from their own.

Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that.

It is perfectly monstrous the way people go about nowadayssaying things against one, behind one's back, that are absolutely and entirely true.

History is merely gossip

My dear Arthur, I never talk scandal. I only talk gossip.
What is the difference between scandal and gossip?
Oh! Gossip is charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.

Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.