A rumor is something that is told around without any basis or truth. This can come from many different sources and it’s often spread by word of mouth. It is often used to describe something that is a common theme in many different movies, books, and television shows. If you are going to try to figure out whether or not something is a rumor, it helps to know what the definition of a rumor is first.
A rumor is usually “a false story of reasons for happening things which are often not true” and is most commonly used by lower class individuals to make themselves look good. The term rumor comes from a French word that means “round” or “inflammatory”. When someone is spreading rumors, it usually has no other purpose other than to spread hatred and point fingers. The social ladder is at its most effective when rumors are told among friends, family members, coworkers, and strangers.
It should be noted that all rumors have a goal; that is to distract you from what you really want to focus on. Some may not realize this, but if you are trying to get work done or accomplish a goal, the least thing you could do is listen to a bunch of gossip. On the other hand, strategic communication is exactly what you would need to prevent the spreading of rumors.
Strategic communication is when someone creates a scenario where they can use gossip to influence others to act in a certain way. It is often used in sports to influence the way that other players act or compete. This is considered very unethical and it is illegal. One of the biggest problems with gossip is that it spreads very quickly; by the time the rumors start to make sense, the person who is being gossiped about may find it is more important that they are “OK” than to listen and understand the situation. That is why it is so important to avoid spreading rumors; because once it starts, it is usually too late.
Another way that gossip can spread is through third-party reporting. When a person hears something from someone else and then tells another person, the first person can often spread the gossip very quickly. The only problem with this type of gossip is that it can often harm a person’s reputation. You wouldn’t want to become the target of a gossip, after all.
A better way to deal with rumours is to use strategic communication techniques, such as truth telling. In truth telling, you are gathering information and sharing it with others; therefore, when you hear a rumour, you ask yourself: “Is this true? If it is, then what are those people basing their opinions off of? “, and you will be able to determine whether or not the rumour is indeed arumour.