Rumors and Assumptions-Potent Toxins

 In general, there are two kinds of people on this earth. Admirers and haters. Admirers consist of your family, friends, your known acquaintances, your well-wishers, etc. As for the haters, I think most of the people do have haters (just an assumption because it has become a normie these days). In our childhood, we had haters among our friends itself. We picked up a quarrel, we fight, we don’t talk and then we pass comments and spread rumours about that one person who never left our side when we needed him the most. Trivial issues like these were prevalent and friends used to patch up after a pep-talk. But that’s now it is as we grow up gradually. We get to overthink about rumours on us, we rack our brains, spoil our mood, and ultimately, we end up spoiling our day.

What are these rumours though? Many people think they are just mere words which won’t be having an effect when spoken out. Well, they’re wrong. Our human tongue is a beast which only a few people can tame and master and it is one of the most powerful weapons in history. I'll tell you guys a fantastic fact. In 261 BC, after the Kalinga war, King ASHOKA of the MAURYAS assembled a secret society of 9 men. He entrusted them with the world’s most ancient and advanced form of knowledge and the most important books in the hold of this secret society was the art of propaganda and psychological warfare. It refers to the power of speech to alter, control and influence people’s minds. But somehow the world learnt about this art and many world leaders, politicians, and even our advertisements are doing this art of propaganda. This shows the power of words.

A rumour is basically a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth. people just go on spreading rumours without even verifying things. Sometimes, it brings upon a lot of psychological and emotional trauma on the victim, who just slips into depression.

I would like to take an example here. There was a friend of mine, who had a lot of anger management problems, had a lot of attitude problem, used to beat people up, was very notorious in his school. He caused many problems among many friends, his parents and family too. This obviously, would bring him many people who started hating him. And gradually, by the time finished his schooling, he mended his ways, became a good student, was popular among the teachers, was one of the toppers of his campus and came out with flying colours. Later, he found out that gruesome and horrible rumours were spreading against him and even his friends started doubting him (me too, but I reconciled later).

This pushed him into depression, and he became mad for many months, didn’t eat food properly for weeks and when I spoke with him. He asked me a small question: “why am I paying a price for a mistake I didn’t do?” this moved me deeply. Why do people spread rumours? Is it for personal satisfaction? Revenge? Or is it just for fun?

And when it comes to the 21^st century, spreading rumours is done within split seconds with the aid of a powerful mass weapon called “SOCIAL MEDIA”. It is now the hub of rumours, assumptions and hate comments on people. Hear me out when I say this guys; it hurts a lot. There are some things in the world which can never be measured but only experienced. Pain is one of them.

So, before trying to think about some message about anybody. Just please don’t mind to check it once. And don’t hesitate to ask the person just one question with 3 words….” Is it true?”.

In conclusion, always remember this, “rumours are carried by haters, spread by fools and accepted by idiots.” because such insecure people only eclipse your sun because they’re jealous of your daylight.

This is Pranav, signing off…. :)