A rumor is a false story that circulates among people. Rumors are often unsubstantiated, and they can be made up out of fear, anger, jealousy, or disappointment. They may also be maliciously construed lies designed to hurt someone. They can make or break a celebrity, politician, or place of business. They can be positive or negative and are frequently spread by word of mouth or through social media.
A person can start a rumor to get information, figure out what others know, or just because they want to hear something outrageous. They may even have no connection to the subject of the rumor at all. Once the rumor begins to spread, it can quickly become out of control. A rumor can be passed from one person to the next through friends of the person spreading it, or it can spread by word of mouth in the workplace or at school. It can also be spread by electronic media like email, blogs, or social networks.
Sometimes rumors are true, but more often than not they are false. For example, a student may overhear teachers talking about early dismissal, and the rumor spreads through the school that it is going to happen. In some cases, the rumor is confirmed by official sources, such as an email sent to parents or a sign posted on the front door of the building.
Other times, a rumor is so outrageous that it is believed to be true. For example, a rumor that the president of the United States had plastic surgery may have been true because it was so outlandish. This type of rumor is often called a “pipe dream” because it is not grounded in fact. It is not the same as a bogie or wedge-driving rumor, which are grounded in fear or suspicion of others (e.g., an enemy surprise attack is imminent).
In the workplace, it can be difficult to control a rumor. If a coworker spreads a rumor about you, you can try to discredit it by telling other colleagues that the rumor is not true and asking them to keep it quiet. You can also talk to the person directly about the rumor and see what they think of it. If the rumor is about you, you can try to show that it is not true by demonstrating hard work or following company policy.
If the rumor is about your significant other, you can try to be faithful and treat them well. You can also try to spend more time with them so that other people don’t believe the rumor that you are cheating on them. If the rumor is about your job performance, you can try to demonstrate that you are a dedicated and hard working employee by not taking advantage of opportunities or by violating policies. You can also try to get the person who started the rumor to stop the rumors by pointing out that it is not true.