Azares 1 Sarah Azares Professor Lago College Writing 16 December 2013 Rumors Rumors, although they have a negative

reputation, some hold a sense of truth in their context, which may be regarded as useful information. Regardless of the accuracy of the information, rumors spread at a phenomenal rate. Rumors can be found on many forms of media, including social media, newscasts, magazines, etc. However, although what is published can be seen by any person, not one individual will make finding the truth part of their thought process. Rumors are too easily believed and if they are believed it could negatively impact someone or something. Their rapid spread comes from the fear of being secluded from the social world. In a class discussion about rumors, we were exposed to a certain rumor. William Paterson University puts laxatives in the food they serve at Wayne Hall. After this was presented to the class, there was a survey done on the truth of the statement. Most students in our class experiment had not yet heard about this rumor. At first, only a few individuals in the class believed the rumor, but after deliberation with members of the class, there was a second survey done. The results showed that more had grown to believe the rumor was true based off of the information and thoughts presented by the others. To prove a point, at the time we discussed the rumor, there was no possible way to experiment to see if anything that had been said was true or false, but some chose to believe without proof. Although later we were told that without a doubt laxatives in the food was impossible. So even though at the time this rumor was presented to us and we also did not have proof, a few still insisted that the rumor was true.

Azares 2 This result can occur with other rumors as well. Magazines and some television shows are made specifically for the idea of gossip and the spreading of supposable rumors. Many people will believe anything they hear, especially when it comes from influential people such as celebrities and newscasters. These people are the main sources for rumors because in the minds of average people in the modern day, whatever is on the internet or is said by someone well known has to be true. Usually there is no speculation on if this information is untrue, so it is accepted even though anyone could simply google what they have learned. The circulation of information in modern day is actually quite amazing. There is a great number of ways to communicate: newspapers, magazines, television, texting, blogging, etc. The speed at which we spread information is revolutionary and has been useful. However, how resourceful can instantaneous knowledge be if it is incorrect? A good number of people will think something to be true after hearing it for the first time, never taking the time to learn more. With that in consideration, if these particular people discover and accept a wrong piece of information itll potentially lead to a problem. Going back to the class experiment, if everyone believed it to be true they wouldnt go to or return to the Wayne Hall. Other students outside of the class would be informed too. Lets say those others believe it also. With no one going to the Wayne Hall, it would serve no purpose and will cause crowding in the Student Center. In this case, the malleable minds of people bring about multiple issues for the university. The outcome from a simple rumor may be money lost, jobs lost, and a now useless space. Even though is seems that the more people spread rumors, the greater amount of believe them. Well this is not entirely true. There are a number of people who spread rumors just to have something to talk about. Many conversations will become dry and boring, but one thing that

Azares 3 people seem to be interested in is everyone elses life. As said in Nicholas Carrs book, teens and other young adults have a terrific interest in knowing whats going on in the lives of their peers, coupled with a terrific anxiety about being out of the loop. if they stop sending messages, they risk becoming invisible (118). Many young adults are deeply concerned about their social lives, so they conform in the hope to be in the in-crowd. James Surowieki describes people as Ants marching around in a circle until we die (James Surowieki) in the video that was watched during class. It seems the idea of being an individual has disappeared and everyone is becoming victim to this growing epidemic. The ideas of rumors are blogged on sites that are familiar to every individual on this Earth and then reblogged out of common interest or hilarity. So even if a rumor is not trust by a person it may still be passed on. What if this nonbeliever makes the choice of sharing false information with others? Lets say the people that have just been told think the information is correct, and continue the sharing. The chain reaction of sharing this information will go on, and a large portion of people will know this to be true. If enough people believe something to be true, will that make it true even though in reality it is false? The dispersion of rumors may never stop. People will always talk about what they hear, not matter how farfetched they seem. The realities of it is, people are curious about others and want to be sure they wont be ostracized from the social world. Though the issue is not is how quickly information is communicated, but how information is simply accepted without any question. The possible harm that can come from the trust people have in others could be avoided if the process of searching for more information is done.

Azares 4 Works Cited Carr, Nicholas G. The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. New York: W.W.Norton, 2010. Print. James Surowiecki: The power and the danger of online crowds. Youtube. Youtube, 20 Nov. 2008. Web. 19 October 2013.