2. • RUMORS ARE DEFINED AS WIDELY SPREAD TALK WITH NO RELIABLE
SOURCE TO BACK IT UP. THEY AREN'T ALWAYS BAD. SOME RUMORS CAN
EVEN SEEM POSITIVE, LIKE PROMOTIONS, ENGAGEMENTS, OR AWARDS.
• BUT UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE, THEY ARE JUST THAT -- RUMORS.
• GOSSIP IS WHEN YOU TAKE RUMORS -- THOSE UNCONFIRMED PIECES OF
INFORMATION -- AND PASS THEM ALONG, SPREADING WHAT MAY BE “FAKE
NEWS.”
3. • FOR THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED, GOSSIP CAN BE DOWNRIGHT PAINFUL AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE –
ESPECIALLY IF SOCIAL MEDIA IS BEING USED TO SPREAD IT.
• CONSEQUENTLY, KIDS WHO ARE BEING GOSSIPED ABOUT ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
• FOR INSTANCE, GOSSIP AND RUMORS CAN DESTROY A PERSON’S SELF-CONFIDENCE AND AFFECT THEIR SELF-
ESTEEM.
• IT ALSO CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, EATING DISORDERS, ANXIETY, AND A HOST OF OTHER
ISSUES.
4. • IT'S FAR FROM SOMETHING TO BRUSH OFF. IT CAN BRING THINGS LIKE:
EXHAUSTION
ANXIETY
DEPRESSION
• WHAT'S MORE, ALL THIS TALK CAN ESCALATE TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. WHEN IT'S NOT ADDRESSED, IT CAN ALSO
CAUSE LONG-TERM PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING:
STRESS DISORDER
PANIC ATTACKS
GUILT
SUICIDE
5. • BUT SOME RUMOURS ARE INTENSELY HARMFUL AS WELL AS PAINFUL.
• THEY MAY EVEN MAKE OR BREAK A PERSON’S LIFE.
• WE OFTEN HEAR OF SUCH MALICIOUS RUMOURS AND SADLY ENOUGH MANY PEOPLE COME TO BELIEVE THEM.
• SOMETIMES EVEN A MARRIAGE MAY BE CANCELLED DUE TO SOME VICIOUS RUMOUR SPREAD AGAINST THE BRIDE
OR THE GROOM.
• THESE INCIDENTS ARE SOUL-SHATTERING, THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE ANY BASIS FOR SUCH BELIEFS.
• THUS SOME RUMOURS MAY CAUSE MUCH HARM TO MANY PEOPLE.
6. • RUMOUR IS NEVER ENTIRELY TRUE AND IT DOES NOT BENEFIT ANYBODY. RATHER IT IS OFTEN VERY HARMFUL
AND MAY DO IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. SO I THINK WE SHOULD NOT TAKE RUMOUR SERIOUSLY.
• THEY ARE AFTER ALL MERE GOSSIP. BUT IT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
• WE ALL FALL PREY TO RUMOUR AT CERTAIN TIMES. EVEN EDUCATED PEOPLE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO REMOUR
OCCASIOLLY, SPECIALLY IF SOMEBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOME MENTAL STRAIN.
• WE ALL ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUMOUR.
• WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT RUMOURS ARE SPREAD EITHER TO PROMOTE SOMETHING OR TO EXTOL
SOMEBODY, ALL FOR PERSONAL BENEFIT. BUT THEY ARE OFTEN FALSE.
• REASON SHOULD BE APPLIED IN JUDGING ANY INFORMATION AND WE SHOULD NOT DEPEND UPON HEARSAY.
• IT IS SELF-CONFIDENCE AND HARD REASONING THAT CAN COMBAT ANY UNFOUNDED RUMOUR.
• HENCE SOMETIMES IT MAY BE WISER FOR US TO LET THE HEAD RULE THE HEART.
