Rumor is a piece of information that spreads rapidly through a group. It is often untrue and can affect a person’s reputation. Rumors can be positive or negative. They can also be malicious or unintentional. People can be affected by rumors about celebrities, places of business, and even their own friends. It is important to know how to deal with a rumor and not let it ruin your life.
Rumors can be spread by word of mouth, or through the use of social media. Word of mouth is the most common way a rumor is spread. For example, Sally gets her hair done at a salon and likes it so she tells two of her friends who then tell another two friends. This starts a chain reaction and soon everyone is talking about the salon. This is a positive rumor because it is not damaging anyone and is helping someone’s business.
Other rumors are malicious and can be hurtful to a person’s reputation. These rumors are often based on jealousy, anger, or disappointment. They can damage a celebrity’s reputation or cause someone to lose their job. The damage may be long term or temporary, depending on how serious the rumor is. It is important to know how to recognize a malicious rumor and how to handle it properly.
Sometimes a rumor can become so widespread that it can have an effect on a corporation’s public image. For example, in 2011 a picture was circulated on the Internet that linked McDonald’s with racism. The picture was later denied by McDonald’s but the damage was already done (Barger, 2011).
A rumor can be positive or negative and either way it can spread quickly. It can be a positive rumor that promotes a good restaurant or service. A negative rumor is called a wedge drive if it tries to undermine a person’s relationship with others or the community. It can also be a bogie rumor that reflects fears or feared outcomes.
The information in a rumor can be false, partially true or completely true. The truth can be found out by checking with the source of the rumor or by seeing the person in person. However, if the rumor is viciously construed it will be hard to convince those who believe the rumor to change their opinions.
In high school there were always rumors going around about different students, some of them were true but the majority of them were not. Some of the rumors were just noise and nothing more than gossip but other were maliciously construed and spread by spiteful ex-boyfriends or jealousy between two former friends.
If you hear a rumor about yourself it is important to ignore it unless you are in danger. It is also important to find out who started the rumor and why. This will help you determine if they are trying to get a rise out of you or if they really believed what they were spreading. It will also give you insight into that person’s personality and help you figure out how to treat them in the future.