How the Rumor Mill Keeps Grinding
The moment you feed a rumor into the mill, it is ground into thousand bits and with the help of the ubiquitous face book and tweeter, spreads itself into million ears and eyes. Why do we relish rehashing personal scandals, indiscretions and omissions of others? No wonder the website that claims to score five million hits and growing, and the television talk shows that zoom up in rating serve liberal doses of celebrity gossips.
Fans are fascinated by the colorful lives of favorite movie stars and other celebrities and at the same time, love to watch them fall from their pedestals as they spread around their alleged worse habits and afflictions. Consider the ranks of actors and entertainers whose sexuality has been questioned. It ranges from handsome movie idols, fast rising young hunk to lovely telenovela beauty that is talked about as secretly romancing a female director. Thousands feast on the alleged charm powered by cash of a known athlete claimed to have been responsible for the pregnancy of a starlet.
Many of these allegations easily catch fire with the efforts of fans or detractors depending where their loyalty lies. Halitosis that in the mind of many makes one a social pariah is bruited to be the cause of the break up of a love team that counts with rabid fan base. A male star whose rise is alleged to be due to having spend time in the casting couch of a network executive is said to suffer with the same mouth disease.
We readily buy information that reinforces our belief and allegiances. When the legitimate media and the internet proudly quoted Oprah Winfrey stating that the intelligent and spontaneous answer of Miss Philippines ought to win her the Miss Universe title, no one bothers to check its authenticity.
There is great deal of social rank pulling involved in rumor mongering. The first one to feed a juicy morsel of chismis feels a sense of personal leadership within his clique. The latest bits of scandal can be as mouthwatering as the entrée in a monthly hen lunch or as exhilarating as a win in the mahjong table among housewives.
The muckraking tabloids and reality talk shows worried about libel suits titillate viewers and readers by feeding tips and leads about the anonymous subject. In our attempt to organize and control a situation, we fill the void with our own perceptions. As new details are added or deducted, no one worries if they are based on facts or farthest from the truth.
Most of the time those whose reputation and character are maligned find it smarter not to refute these rumors. What hormonal counts can you present to prove your masculinity or feminity or DNA analysis that someone else fathered that child? As publicists philosophically advise their wards, even if it is bad, it is still publicity. Just grin and bear it.
the Guru of Hype 