Crossing That Line

Have you ever noticed that we all get so excited about telling stories regarding other people?  Most people simply regard these "stories" as gossip, and usually they are JUST gossip.  What if the story involves someone that you care about, and its topic is your best friend's grief.  Either someone close to this best friend died, or maybe a long time companion, such as a dog or a cat... why are we all so eager to share someone else's grief with others?  Do we care about our best friend's grief simply because we care about them and need others to share with in order to eliminate that grief?  Some are guilty of using others' grief in order to feel better about themselves and it has nothing to do with the person who actually deserves the attention. Do you know where the "line" lies between a caring best friend and a codependent best friend?