I don't get in on the gossip. If I hear some, I keep in mind the old adage, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"  As far as keeping out of the "gossip loop" myself, I have long-ago learned not to divulge too much personal info/stories other than the run-of-the mill "love my cats" and "worked in the yard this weekend..." kind of stuff.

Personally, the only kind of "gossip" I mind is that that affects me indirectly--someone doesn't like something about me, but they never tell me--they tell my supervisor or something and I'm none the wiser until it comes up in a bad review (or worse!) That's what really peeves me (and, I dare say, makes me feel a bit paranoid when I hear those office whispers!)