What's the difference between gossipping and just talking about someone?

It's all in your attitude. If you're talking to someone to gain more information about someone, that's talking about them.

If you're being judgemental, hurtful, or making it out like the person of topic is less than you or others in some way, that's gossip.

Normally gossiping is usually about a person saying things that shouldnt be spread. Just talking about someone could mean anything. You could be talking about how cute they looked in a pair of jeans, or even trashing them.

gossiping is when the person doesn't know that they are being talked about, normally gossiping is when you talk bad about a person or when you try to embarrass them. Talking about them is either when they know about it or it isn't bad and embarrassing.

gossiping - *cooking up rumors and spreading them.
* talkin abt the private issues of a person.
* telling anything tht wud tarnish their reputation.
* conversing abt the person when there is no need
other than just filling in the gap in conversation.
Talking abt - * recounting some pleasant incidents involving
the person.
* telling anything positive abt tht person.
* negative incidents if any is recounted only
if needed.

If you gossip, and say things that are not good, that's gossipping, and the person dont know that you are taking about them. talking about a person and its nice is not gossipping.