Is it OK to Eavesdrop on People Discussing You?

The other day I was just walking in a busy place, heading towards somewhere, minding my own business when a couple walking nearby began discussing something animatedly. Normally I wouldn’t listen in to other people’s conversations as its non of my business, but this time something really caught my attention and made my head involuntarily snap towards the chatting couple, they were discussing “Dandemra”. 

My initial response couldn’t be helped, I was startled to hear the word “danderma” out of the blue, the way you’d be startled to hear your own name uttered in public by a stranger. A second later, realising the very word danderma doesn’t necessarily mean my blog, the couple might be discussing some ice cream or anything else, but I did hear more from the -loud- conversation that assured me they were indeed talking about the person behind the Danderma blog and my heart beat began beating loudly in my ears.

Now because all of us were walking and they were a few steps ahead of me, I would have had to pick up my pace and loom in closely to hear what exactly they were saying. Wether good or bad, mean or nice, or a correct thing or not. Then I felt ashamed, I would look stupid and it didn’t feel right to eavesdrop. Then I thought to myself that I had every right to hear what these two strangers were saying about my blog, or rather me behind the blog. Then I thought to myself that just because they were discussing something about me doesn’t give me the right to eavesdrop on their private conversation, but was it a private conversation if it was discussed loudly in a public place with other people who can hear around them? How private was that conversation was exactly? and most importantly, what where they saying?

I slowed down my pace until I couldn’t hear them anymore, I was already in a good mood and didn’t want to risk hearing whatever thing they were discussing effect it. Of course they could be discussing a good and nice thing that would make my day but that was a 50/50 chance. Also, I would get into all sorts of internal debate with myself regarding whether or not I should introduce myself and correct them if I heard them discussing something that wasn’t true or didn’t happen the way it did. A pandora’s box of a situation that I’ve clamped the lid firmly shut on with the decision not to listen anymore.

I recall once overhearing two women discussing a relative of mine who apparently was their manager, when I began smiling involuntarily they stopped, asked me if I knew the guy, and fled in embarassment when I said I did. I wasn’t going to tell on them or anything but I did make them uncomfortable and they must have not liked the feeling of suspense, waiting to discover if what they’ve said got back to their manager or not. I personally don’t think eavesdropping is OK but also discussing someone or something loudly in a public place will mean it can be heard by other people even if they don’t want to and if you don’t want people to know something, just don’t say it or if you do, then you might find yourself in a situation that you don’t like.

Now, what would you do if you overhear two strangers discussing something about you? Would you eavesdrop or not? Is it really eavesdropping if its about yourself? And if it was something untrue, would you correct them or just laugh it off and let it be?