SOMETHING
TO THINK ABOUT
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Rumors: Kids.net.Au defines a rumor thusly: ". . . gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth."
As with many things, good and bad, our electronic/cyber world has made rumors much easier to spread. It used to take ten minutes for "news" to get from coast to coast, via back fences and water coolers. Now it happens in less than a second. (For my excessively literal friends, that statement contained exaggeration for effect.) I have no idea whether Senator Reid's recent rumor mongering has any basis in fact or not, but it does illustrate the damage a rumor can cause.
- Many will judge the veracity of a rumor based on the perceived character of the person who shares the "news." If Howard Merrell shared that a fellow preacher gives no money to his church, likely it would create little interest. When a respected public servant speaks, however . . .
Actually, I do have some influence (That was self-deprecation used to disarm resistance to a point.) Each of us does. We are responsible to use it wisely. As well, when we hear something, it behooves us to do some checking. Even usually reliable people sometimes get it wrong.
- Once a rumor has been set loose it is
 incredibly hard to call back. Folk who purposely, skillfully use rumor for effect know this. Even a ridiculously false rumor will consume opposition resources.
For instance someone recently attempted to float a rumor about CBC. (I could say who and why, but that would be an example of what I'm writing against.) It appears to me that someone heard an exaggerated, humorous statement used to make a point. And took it to be literally true. (This wasn't it, but someone might say "Howard's message really stank." Someone, purposely or not, takes a figure of speech the wrong way and soon the news is spread that there is a dead rat in the sanctuary. . . .) The "news" was reported/planted as fact, and there it goes. Somebody had to take time to say, "No, this isn't true."
- There are many more, but just one: Rumors are often horrendously damaging. They tend to leave a measure of doubt. They complicate. Sometimes a person never recovers.
We ought to deal in truth. As in times past when merchants would bite a coin to see if it was real, we need to check it out. When a juicy morsel agrees with our prejudice we should be especially careful. When a rumor can cause harm, we ought to treat it like a
 loaded gun.
You can check some of what the Bible has to say below:
It's STTA
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