A rumor is an unfounded belief that spreads rapidly and tarnishes reputations. In the past, rumors had little influence over people’s behavior; today, however, they can be very damaging. They can cause a lot of confusion and anxiety, as well as lead to social exclusion. It is important to know how to deal with a rumor in order to minimize its effect on you.
The concept of rumor is a common topic of study in sociology and communication studies, and there are many ways to look at it. According to one theory, a rumor is an act of responding to uncertainty in society; it is a form of coping with the unknown. Another way to look at a rumor is as a tool of self-interest, where the rumor is created by individuals to satisfy their own needs. It is also believed that a rumor can be considered a record of the public temper, as it records a society’s emotions in a certain period of time.
Rumors can be categorized as:
1. Concerns and preoccupations:
The first category of rumours reflects a person’s concerns, fears, or anxieties in the community. For example, the rumour ‘Eating Lay’s potato chips causes cancer’ reflects the concern of the community over health issues. Similarly, the rumour ‘People with more memory are smarter’ reflects a fear of forgetting.
2. Social Interests and Imaginations:
A rumour that has been created in response to a person’s social interests or imagination is a ‘pipe dream’ rumour. For example, a rumour that ‘Jonas brothers are making a sequel to ‘The Brothers Grimm’ reflects the excitement of a large number of people over the possibility of a new movie from the popular band.
3. Intentions and Efforts:
Those who spread a rumour out of malice usually want to harm or embarrass someone. However, they may also be jealous of the other person’s success or simply feel upset with their life and want to add drama. In these situations, it is best to ignore the rumours and show grace towards the individual spreading them. This will help to change their perspective and encourage them to stop spreading lies about you.
4. The Changing of the Times:
In Saudi Arabia, where there is limited information, it is not uncommon for a rumour to begin with the aim of putting pressure on managers to be more transparent. This type of rumour can be seen in the ‘Saudi Arabian oil reserves are low’ rumour, which is based on fact, but then distorted by a desire to change the times.
5. Unfounded Conclusion: