How to stop rumors

How to stop rumors

 

References

In this article: Respond appropriately Take action Related articles References

It is often said that you shouldn't respond to rumours, otherwise they will be fueled. Scientific research tends to prove that this is bad advice. The way rumors were fabricated during the last American elections seems to confirm that this new way of seeing things is the right  one [1] . What to do if you can't ignore the gossip?

 

 

 

Part

1

Respond appropriately

1

Don't be silly. Don't act like you have absolutely no idea what people are saying about you. If you act like you don't know, people may think the rumors are true. There's no point in pretending you're the only one who never heard the gossip that everyone knows at school or at work. The first step in dealing with a rumor about you is to acknowledge that it exists  [2] .

If someone hints at the rumour, you can say, "I heard what's being said" or "I know what people are saying about me." »

Even better, you can outrun bad language. If you know that a sickening rumor is spreading fast about you, you can even tell people who haven't heard about it yet. These people are more likely to be on your side if you're the one who told them the rumor than if it's the gossip that tells them.

 

2

Do not show that it affects you. Don't openly show that gossip makes you angry, hurt, or disappoints you. Even if the comments are mean and hurtful, if you look upset in public, it means your attackers have won. If you are not well, confide in your close friends, it will be better than letting your grief burst out in the face of the world. Keep smiling, walk with your head held high, and don't let anyone get to you.

On the other hand, if you show that the rumor resonates with you, people are likely to think that it is true.

3

Do not fight evil with evil. While it may be tempting to counter one rumor by starting another, you need to be on top of that and not fall into the bad habit of gossip. You could of course say something about the person who started the rumor about you or say something unrelated just to distract, but by doing that you risk making things even worse and harming yourself. look desperate. You will then be no better than the person who started the rumor.

Always remember that you must grow out of this ordeal. You want people to respect you and think you are worth knowing. If you don't want to lose the respect that people had for you before the rumor spread, you have to keep walking with your head held high, rather than saying to yourself, "Since I can't fight, I'm going to do like them. ". This reaction will get you nowhere.

4

Talk to an adult or someone in authority if necessary. Of course, it won't be much fun for you to confide in an adult or your boss about such gossip, but they may be able to confront those spreading the gossip or comfort you. If there's a rumor going around at school, for example, and you know exactly who's spreading it, telling a teacher can scare the culprits and put a stop to the gossip.

This advice is difficult to apply. It's up to you if you need to tell an adult or if you think you can sort things out on your own.

 

 

Part

2

Take action

 Image intitulée Stop Rumors Step 5

1

Defend yourself. Don't confuse "defending yourself" with "being on the defensive". Since silence isn't always golden, it can be helpful to have answers ready like: "I don't believe that's true" or "I think it's a rumor unfounded (or malicious). This stuff can do a lot of harm. Look people straight in the eye while saying these phrases.

If you are called to account about a rumor, you must defend yourself, no matter what. If you ignore them or show that you don't want to talk about it, people will think the rumor is true.

 Image intitulée Stop Rumors Step 6

2

Figure out what gives credence to the rumor so you can stop it. The rumors that spread most easily are those that are credible and backed by hard evidence. For example, in the office, a rumor may arise about a possible affair between two employees if these two people flirt at their workplace or if they always have lunch together. Once you've determined what's fueling the rumor, try to shut it down if you can  [3] .

Don't let yourself say, “They shouldn't think that of me” or “I should be able to do whatever I want without thinking about what they'll think about it. The thing is, they're judging you, and as long as you behave the same way, the rumor mill will continue to spread.

Of course, if you've done absolutely nothing to fuel the rumor, there's nothing you can do. And even if you do something that could potentially fuel the rumor mill, don't be too hard on yourself!

 Image intitulée Stop Rumors Step 7

3

Prove it wrong if you can. If you are able to provide evidence that invalidates the rumor, do so. For example, if people say your boyfriend doesn't exist, bring him to the next party. If they say you can't swim, plan an afternoon by the pool. If you have in your possession a document that can attest once and for all that the rumor lies, do not tell yourself that you are above that: do not hesitate to show it.

Of course, the main problem with rumors is that it is usually difficult to prove that they are false. Don't scramble to find proof if it's simply unprovable.

 Image intitulée Stop Rumors Step 8

4

Shout the rumor from the rooftops. Yes really. Speak the rumor out loud or write it prominently. By admitting the rumor, you make it lose its strength. Rumors spread like wildfire because the people who spread them do so to gain popularity, to look like they've got the scoop of the century. If you go public with their 'scoop of the century' they won't have any reason to spread the rumour, everyone will already know!

Of course, if it's something very painful, you may not want everyone to know about it. But if you think telling everyone about it is the best way to prove it's ridiculous and stop the gossip, do it.

 Image intitulée Stop Rumors Step 9

5

Go see the source of the rumor. If you know who started the rumor, you might want to talk to them. Be courteous, hold your head up high, and ask the person in question frankly why he or she started the rumour. Make it clear that this rumor is hurting you without appearing upset. Say something like, "I know we're not really friends, but spreading false rumors about me isn't the best way to solve our problems." »

If you don't want to confront the person who started the rumor alone, go with a few friends. Of course, don't put yourself in an awkward or dangerous situation if you feel that going to this person won't do you any good.

 Image intitulée Stop Rumors Step 10

6

Take care of you. Rumors can upset, anger or even depress those affected by them. No matter what people say about you, keep your head up and remember who you are. Don't let others judge your worth, stay strong no matter what people say about you. Spend time with real friends, get enough sleep, keep your self-esteem high despite gossip.

You may be so busy trying to find the best way to convince people that rumors are unfounded that you forget to take care of yourself. In this case, you need to refocus on yourself rather than the insignificant attacks of others. This is the only way to regain a healthy and happy life.

 

 

Advice

Above all else, stay calm. People love to watch your reaction. Staying calm will help bury the rumor and possibly prevent you from being the target of further attacks in the future.

Try to act like you don't care. If not, try pretending. Keep walking with your head held high.

Try to ignore comments made by people around you. Tell yourself that the rumor will eventually stop on its own.

Talk to a trusted friend and try to check with them if the problem is not yours.

If you're the one who started a rumour, don't deny it. Rather than worrying about what people will think of you, acknowledge that you did something wrong.

Speak openly with people who believe the rumor to tell them what is really going on.

 

 

Warnings

Don't have fun spreading gossip, it will backfire and become another rumour.

Don't waste your time trying to figure out who started the rumour. It's totally useless and ineffective.