We all know that information is circulated in the firehouse like a wild fire. Whether there is a grain or shred of truth is left to be determined by the individual speaking and the recipient of the information. Please consider the following:
A rumor or rumour is often viewed as "an unverified account or explanation of events circulating from person to person and pertaining to an object, event, or issue in public concern."
Thus, a rumor is a concept that lacks a particular definition in the social sciences. But most theories agree that rumor involves some kind of a statement whose veracity is not quickly or ever confirmed. In addition, some scholars have identified rumor as a subset of propaganda, the latter another notoriously difficult concept to define.
Rumors are also often discussed with regard to "misinformation" and "disinformation" (the former often seen as simply false and the latter seen as deliberately false, though usually from a government source given to the media or a foreign government). Rumors thus have often been viewed as particular forms of other communication concepts.
If you are confronted with or are concerned about what you are hearing please consider going to "The Source" to handle it. Don't add your own "fuel to the fire" because this propragates the issue and helps it spread. We all need to stand up and demand accuracy in what we speak, or, at the least an explanation for misinformation that is spread.
