Why do people start rumors? What might be the astrology?
I understand that rumors can also be started by honest misunderstandings as well as the need to try to fill in the gaps of a situation as a result of information being held back or incomplete. This missing information can really cause fear, anxiety, intense curiosity and I think that’s part of the human experience.
Purposefully starting a rumor? Sabatoge. Desire to feel superior. Boredom. Anger, misplaced or otherwise. Diversion.
I think it's all of the above.
Do people even say “rumors” anymore? Maybe among friends, relatives, colloquially.
But is it now more pervasively known as “misinformation” and “disinformation”? Is this another method of changing words to sound more sophisticated, to “own” the word and thereby control its distinction upon people?
@allie120 That's an interesting observation! News travels so much faster these days, the rumor mill works at the speed of light... so maybe that's why good old fashioned rumors have been reinvented in these other words. Another new colloquialism: "that's been de-bunked," because so many people are now constantly "fact checking" everything they hear or read.
I know of a real life situation with someone who started a rumor about their employer after they gave 2 weeks notice (quit the job)/before they left the workplace. It was clearly done out of spite. But it was an obvious smear, easily seen to be false by all other employees, and just made the rumor-starter look like a villain instead of the person who they intended to hurt. I don't understand how they could get any satisfaction from creating a rumor like that. I would just feel regret for making myself look like an ass, and burning bridges with everyone who I had worked with.
@cocopeaches It’s almost as if they cannot, or refuse to, think about what happens next. Or they don’t realize how they left their giant, glowing signature all over the rumor.
How will this reflect on future employment or opportunities? People will be glad they’re gone. People will not remember them except for the asshat they were on the way out. And especially, how could this possibly help them outside of the moment they spread the rumor (presumably it made them feel good). It’s as if they’re a legend in their own mind. The main character in the movie in their head.
I would want to know how all the gears are working in their head.