What's the best way to kill a rumor?

It’s contextual.

If the rumor is going around because there’s an information vacuum and the bush telegraph is filling the need, then an official statement with real information is the best way to kill it.

If the rumor is going around because people like to gossip and bad news travels fast, ignoring it is the best way to handle it, although it will not kill it quickly.

Don’t pass it on.

Cyanide.

Usually, I confront the gossiper. That has squashed it quickly. The other way I’ve handled it is to email the gossiper and as many parties that you think that person has “told” the rumor to. Then, politely say “I’ve heard word through the grapevine that I (fill in the blank), well, I would just like to clear the table of this….Or you can just simply state the facts of whatever you have to say without addressing the rumor you heard at all.

Awwwww…..My MIL is great at gossiping. I have now become an expert gossiper stopper.

@AstroChuck—You can try cyanide, but I prefer RumorBeGone. Just spray a little near the rumor, and it dies in minutes. Cyanide—that’s a bit much, I think. Dangerous to handle, and hard to administer. Simpler is better: RumorBeGone!

damn boy! why’d you have to be first on the scene?

machete

One nice thing is people have short attention spans. Give it a few days and a new rumor will probably pop-up(*wink, wink).

Confronting the person will probably just keep it in the news longer.

If anyone asks, deny it but otherwise don’t let it look like it bothers you, makes people realize if you actually did whatever the rumor says, you would freak out more.

Why would you want to kill Bruce Willis’ daughter?

Did you see her in House Bunny?

oy vey.

Your best bet is to not make it any worse. Inaction is the best action here.

In our family, inaction festered to the point where NO one was talking to one another because of all the rumors spread through a particular grapevine (MIL & her sisters). It led to tears on many peoples parts. I was the only one to openly address the issue, and thus, now have new found relationships with MANY family members.

Inaction is not always the best!

@SpatzieLover What you describe sounds like a deeper issue than a single rumor going around. Families need to communicate.

Use the Power of Ignore. It works everytime.

Laughter’s good too. Unless the rumor’s true.

The cruel side of me is really wanting to say start a new one, but I know this would be soo wrong!! I agree with ignoring the said rumours, and try to act as if you can’t understand what all the fuss is about. I suppose it depends on whether or not the rumour is true or not as well, if it is sometimes its better to just own up and deal with the consquence!

ignore it!

Start a new one”)

Ignore it or contradict it.

Contradict is a better word:):)

I think so too! :D