There's no familial or social need, or any self-preservation need, to gossip about Zed Shaw.

Or maybe I am wrong, maybe gossip and backstabbing are perfectly on-topic here. Dunno.

Of course not, when your daughter is young it is entirely appropriate to talk about things she and her friends of done, or what her favorite actress or pop star has done. I think the "small minds discuss people" was referring to older people with a potential for more important discussions, and what they do in fact discuss.

Then again, posting on this particular HN post doesn't say a lot about my large-mindedness either, so I'll just shut up now. :)