# Why do some people believe in rumors, especially about other people? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2019, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392 "2019-05-23T06:45:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/21 "2019-05-24T05:41:39Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > But without that, we never would have had [this](https://youtube.com/watch?v=yygrgcOtezM)! LOL. I knew what that was going to be before I even clicked it. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/22 "2019-05-24T13:21:58Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Yes, I can confirm that’s true - my sister’s boyfriend’s aunt’s housekeeper told us she heard that 80% statistic from an Uber driver. The 80% figure was about workplace rumors: so and so’s getting a promotion, x and y departments are facing layoffs. OP sounds like more of a high school environment. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/23 "2019-05-25T14:01:03Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > The 80% figure was about workplace rumors: so and so’s getting a promotion, x and y departments are facing layoffs. OP sounds like more of a high school environment. I totally believe random statistics like this because I know the studies are done so carefully and comprehensively. Someone said that 106% of all statistics are misused and the remains 35% are made up. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/24 "2019-05-25T18:24:42Z")
> [@sta3535](#): > > Question: Have you ever been falsely accused of something that you never did? > > Examples: inappropriate behavior at a bar, club, or college party, **something that you never said** , something that you never stole, etc. Back in my college days I spent about 6 months working at a McDonald’s. Some time after I had left, someone I was friends with who still worked there said there was a rumor going around that I had stormed out in the middle of a shift, saying “I McQuit!” It wasn’t true, but it didn’t bother me, because other than the storming-out part, it was definitely something I could see myself saying. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/25 "2019-05-25T19:12:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I don’t believe this. Inconceivable! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/26 "2019-05-26T20:13:14Z")
I started a new job and immediately found myself being talked about behind my back. Weird rumors with no basis in fact. Eventually, I just had to tell myself “Don’t care if everyone likes me. I’m just going to keep my head down and do my work.” While others were busy being drama queens. Well, that was over twenty years ago, and I just retired from that job. So I guess I managed to cope. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/27 "2019-05-26T23:50:00Z")
> [@sta3535](#): > > I guess that my actions are being misinterpreted, in a way that makes them think that I’m up to something. I’m not trying to rag on you, really I’m not! But have you considered that you may be acting in a way that is being described accurately, and you just aren’t accepting the description? ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/28 "2019-05-27T00:56:37Z")
> [@sta3535](#): > > I guess that my actions are being misinterpreted, in a way that makes them think that I’m up to something. However, some people don’t mind my company & are easy to talk to. From the possibly three whole remarks you’ve made about your actions you’ve admitted that you do all the actions of a player, (chat up girls, act easy, get in close and ask for a personal contact, then turn around and do it to the next girl without a thought) without actually following through on the sex. But it doesn’t matter that you don’t follow through. You’re already doing the visible steps 1, 2, and 3 of a 5 step process. Of course they’re going to conclude you’re a player when you act like one. Flirting with a dozen girls at a party and keeping them all on your contacts list to chat up or not is the definition of a player. ---
**Author:** ![sta3535](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@sta3535](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sta3535)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/29 "2019-05-27T03:03:26Z")
This is the real definition of a player: > **[Urban Dictionary: Player](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Player)** > > Usually a boy who makes you feel special. He makes you feel like you are the only girl in his life, when really you are just one in 100. They flirt with other people, not just you. They talk to you all day, then the next day they ignore you. They... They basically “play” around with girls/guys by manipulating them. I’m just trying to expand my friend circle by talking/meeting new people. Now, I’m not trying to hookup with them, yet I would rather call it “normal human behavior”. To sum it all up, humans are social creatures. We thrive off of social interactions, yet we still have our limits on who we meet/keep in our friend circle. Even though some of my actions may be considered “creepy” by some, they probably aren’t used to people who introduce themselves to others. Or they just don’t feel like meeting/talking to someone at the time. Yes, even I would be slightly thrown off if a stranger started a conversation with me in public, depending on how they start the conversation with me, yet I would still decide if I want to talk to them or not. As I said in a reply on another thread, it’s all 50/50 with people: They’re either talk or ignore you, it’s as simple as that. Also, everyone has their own definition of “creepy”. On an extra note, false rumors suck, but I really don’t care unless if they start to persuade my friends into thinking that I’m a “bad” person, then they crossed the line with me. ---
**Author:** ![sta3535](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@sta3535](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sta3535)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/30 "2019-05-27T03:11:09Z")
I also forgot to add: There’s nothing much to do when your college is located in a small, rural town away from the city scene with 10,000 people, except for partying. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/31 "2019-05-27T03:16:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > One meme I use at least once a day is: People can say anything. Doesn’t make it true. lol ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2019, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392/32 "2019-05-27T05:08:51Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > How do rumors get started? They’re started by the jealous people. They get mad seeing something they had and somebody else is holding. Sometimes by people who use it as a way to be the center of attention. Coming up with some juicy falsehood gets them attention that they crave and can’t get on other merits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-in-rumors-especially-about-other-people/834392.md?page=1)