Rumour mongering hardly helps
By: Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Rumours dominate our society. Since time immemorial, rumors have an upper hand and with the onset of science and technology, it has become easier to blow or spread rumoring the blink of an eye.
Rumour basically is a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth. It is a well known fact that any doubtful thing should be avoided in the society. If the situation arises, there should be an addition of doubt added to a statement or news.
Without adding doubt to it, can prove disastrous. We have lot of examples that make it crystal clear that how rumours are harmful. The important point is that why rumours spread quickly from one place to another. What are the factors that make it possible to spread rumours In this piece of writing, I will discuss some causes.
Firstly, we are uneducated people. We have high degrees but we lack intellectualism. An educated person spreads oral things from mouth to mouth. It is advised that every news should be verified. Its origin and effects should be thoroughly discussed or observed. No news should be forwarded without in-depth analysis. But this is not the case in our society.
Secondly, we are prejudiced people. We have some pre-occupations in mind that don’t allow us to look at the other side of the coin. When someone or something is bad in our minds without any proof, the slightest mistake forces us to spread the doubtful truth here and there. We hate them. And in this way, we give some solace to ourselves. On the contrary, if someone is good without having any merit, his or her mistake looks a virtue and we lose no time in declaring that he or she is on the righteous path. This information is shared by many people and the result is destruction.
Thirdly we don’t know how to distinguish between a rumour and the truth. We are never taught to make a difference between the two. The things ingrained in our minds don’t allow us to distinguish one thing from the other. We don’t introspect and never think twice what is proper and improper.
Fourthly, we live in an ignorant society. The orthodox principles are transmitted from one generation to another. Children inherent things from their parents and the chain goes on. The parents never learn to question. How can the children do this? They think it is better to follow than to fall in a long discussion, which they don’t know. In this way, rumours spread from one generation to another generation.
Fifthly, the introduction of the Internet has changed everything. A small child can spread rumours at the click of a button. It becomes viral in moments. He or she does it due to fun or lack of knowledge but it takes a dangerous shape in the society. We read text in haste and make abrupt decisions. We never bother to look at the origin of news. Simply, we go on sharing the news and the result is that we reach nowhere and feel ashamed.
Sixthly, we want fame. To be a famous person, we can go to any extent. A person doesn’t feel satisfied if he or she doesn’t have something extra ordinary to do. So, they devise rumours and get publicity. In the end, truth gets killed.
Seventhly, we love something to discuss about. A rumour makes us active. Without having a rumour to discuss, we feel something missing in our lives. Having a rumour among us does miracles. We weave unimaginable stories and give dent to the image of the society.
Eighthly, we imitate others blindly. We never bother to look where we are going. We feel that others have taken lead while we have remained behind. This approach goes against the truth.
And lastly according to my opinion is that we never learn from past. If the past experience teaches that we have got nothing by spreading rumours, so we need to understand that can rumors can give nothing in the future also ! However, we still tread the path of rumour mongering and get humiliated in the long run.
The need of the hour is to remain conscious. Leniency can prove dangerous. We must differentiate between the truth and a rumour. We come to senses when it is very late. An atmosphere of cross checking must be put in place to protect ourselves from the dangers of rumours. They have toxic effects on the total psyche of society.
Starting from an individual level is a welcome step. A collective approach is an urgent need of the hour to combat rumours. Let us remain alert and don’t fall prey to rumours. Hope good sense prevails!
