Rumors can be nasty, scary things. When I was in eighth grade, some members of a local Satanist cult got arrested after they were discovered doing a pretty gross ritual involving a teenage girl.
That week, rumors flew that the members of the Satanist cult who remained free planned to kidnap a blond-haired, blue-eyed girl from our Valentine’s Day dance and sacrifice her in another ritual. Even the brunettes were terrified. Fortunately, the rumor was just that—a rumor.
A similar thing happened at Boston Latin School last month. Rumors flew that one of the girls who attended there was…a vampire. People said she’d been seen scratching her boyfriend’s neck and drinking his blood. Of course, it didn’t stop there. Someone said the police had come to arrest her. Someone else said she wasn’t the only vampire.
Of course, none of this was true, but after the rumors got so ferocious a few “Goth” teens were bullied, the principal was forced to step in and send a memo to parents and teachers, asking them to help stop the rumors from being perpetuated and to stop innocent people from taking flak.
What was the worst rumor you ever heard? Did you pass it on, or just shake your head in disbelief?
Jacquelyn Sylvan is the author of Surviving Serendipity
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That week, rumors flew that the members of the Satanist cult who remained free planned to kidnap a blond-haired, blue-eyed girl from our Valentine’s Day dance and sacrifice her in another ritual. Even the brunettes were terrified. Fortunately, the rumor was just that—a rumor.
A similar thing happened at Boston Latin School last month. Rumors flew that one of the girls who attended there was…a vampire. People said she’d been seen scratching her boyfriend’s neck and drinking his blood. Of course, it didn’t stop there. Someone said the police had come to arrest her. Someone else said she wasn’t the only vampire.
Of course, none of this was true, but after the rumors got so ferocious a few “Goth” teens were bullied, the principal was forced to step in and send a memo to parents and teachers, asking them to help stop the rumors from being perpetuated and to stop innocent people from taking flak.
What was the worst rumor you ever heard? Did you pass it on, or just shake your head in disbelief?
Jacquelyn Sylvan is the author of Surviving Serendipity
. 
4 comments:
Rumors are scary things. I was lucky to not ever be victimized by the gossip mill but I always felt badly for those who were. None of the rumors at my school were as nasty as the ones you wrote about, though. Scary stuff.
One of the best things we can do today is learn not to believe every rumor that comes down the pike. There are ways to verify facts. Never pass along something you don't know to be absolutely true!
Pam
http://readingwithscissors.blogspot.com
Two of my older brother's run a gossip, rumor business, they don't make any money with it but earned plenty disrespect. They are cut off from the rest of our family and that is the only/best medicine against it.
Keep in mind folks, rumor has usually deeper roots than you might think. Jealousy and enviousness are kissing cousins!
--Martin
http://martinbartloff.blogspot.com/
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