Gossip: how to combat the rumor epidemic?

The mechanism always usually works the same way: There is a hypocrite who creates gossip so that the gossiper spreads it and the naive person believes it without resistance. The epidemic of rumors only ends when it finally reaches the ear of the intelligent person, that vaccinated heart that neither pays attention nor responds to what does not make sense.

In a book published in 1947 by social psychologist Gordon Allport titled “The Psychology of Rumors” something really curious is explained to us: Gossips serve to unite diverse groups of people among themselves. and position yourself in front of someone. In turn, these behaviors are pleasurable, they release endorphins and manage to combat stress.

In many cases, gossip becomes a mechanism of social control that grants certain power to those who practice it.. It is positioned at the center of attention of that group of people who are always receptive to any gossip, any biased information, with which to get out of their routines and take advantage of that new stimulus as a distraction.

As they say, gossipers don’t know how to be happy. They are too busy camouflaging their bitterness in vain and superfluous tasks where they uselessly validate their self-esteem. We invite you to reflect on it.

The psychology of relentless gossip

The psychology of gossip and rumors is very current. Let us think, for example, how quickly a founded or unfounded rumor can “spread” in the world of social networks. The Internet is now like a real brain where data roams like interconnected neurons to nourish us with information that is not always true or respectful of others.

For its part, Marketing and advertising experts always use the case of the “Tropical Fantasy” soft drink as an example of “fatal and relentless gossip.”. Released in 1990, it achieved almost immediate success in the United States, until suddenly, a rumor as terrifying as it was absurd arose.

These cheap soft drinks were said to have been created by the Ku Klux Klan for a very specific purpose. Its low cost allowed a large part of the low-income African American population to have access to it. In his formula, he hid in turn a dark purpose: to damage the semen quality of African Americans so that they could not have more children.

No one knows why or who sparked this rumor, but the impact was disastrous. The “Tropical Fantasy” brand took years to recover, to the point that even today, they do not forget to include black people enjoying the soft drink in their advertising images.

It didn’t matter how delusional the gossip itself was, how unfounded or how malicious, because it managed to attack the sensitivity of a group that has since developed a resistance to the consumption of that product, solely based on an unfounded rumor. Even knowing that it was not true, the emotional imprint lasts. This is a clear example of one of the gossips that has left the most echo.

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Defend ourselves from gossip and rumors

Whether we like it or not, our society is built on power relations where Gossips and rumors are real weapons. Manipulated truths are useful for many people, they manage to position themselves with them and obtain very specific benefits.

So that, It is necessary that we always be that intelligent ear that acts as a barrierwhich stops the grievance, the nonsense, the false information and the spark of that fire that always wants to take someone away.

For this reason, and to understand a little better these psychological processes so common in our social contexts, We suggest that you take into account those pillars that support the complex psychology of gossipof the gossiper and the naive one who dispels them.

Popular wisdom always tells us that to break a chain it is enough to remove one link. If rumor and gossip act as true viruses in our work environment, in our family or in our circle of acquaintances, It is necessary to help us with trusted people to act as containment dams. Let them act as intelligent ears to dismantle what does not make sense.

Gossip spreads when there is someone who wants to gain notoriety at our expense.. Faced with these behaviors, we can act in two ways, either turning a deaf ear to the absurd or acting assertively, setting limits and making things clear. We must be aware that in every organization, neighborhood community or in groups of colleagues or friends , there will be an official “rumorologist.” A lover of gossip. We must always be honest, transparent and not feed this type of behavior by spreading the virus of rumor or gossip. Now, it is also necessary to know that it is not easy to discredit a rumor, words are not always enough, Conclusive facts are needed to discredit and demonstrate the implausibility of this gossip.

Meandering languages ​​will always accompany us in one way or another, so it is best to always avoid being one of them and remember that Gossip is for the “rabble” and information is for wise ears.

The 3 questions: truth, goodness and usefulness

The story goes that one day an acquaintance of Socrates asked him:

Socrates! Do you know what I just heard from one of your students? Wait – he said – before you tell me anything I would like to ask you three questions. The first is related to the TRUEAre you sure that what you are going to tell me is true? No – answered the acquaintance – they just told me. Wow, you don’t know if it’s true, no, okay, now the second question. It is related to the goodness, what you are going to tell me about my student, is it something good? No… – he responded. So – Socrates interrupted – you are going to tell me something bad about another person without knowing if it is true or not. Let’s see, the third question is related to the usewhat you are going to tell me, will it be beneficial to someone? Actually… no… Well, well – answered the philosopher – you want to tell me something that you do not know if it is true, it is not good and it is not useful. So why talk about it? Get out of here with your lies and hoaxes!

Without a doubt, Socrates was an intelligent man.

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