Is it just me, or is this site just for a little idle tittle tattle.

Up to a point, yes, it must be. If nobody posted anything that wasn't an officially approved statement of polcy, it'd be a pretty empty bulletin board.

Also- is it impossible that official bodies are influenced by tittle tattle of their own?

If red herrings and gossip is posted and someone like yourself comes in to pass on some genuine knowledge and put people right, that's a good result.

Thanks.