Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Rumours dominate our society. In the age of science and technology, it has become easier to blow or spread rumours from one area to another. 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 clear that how rumours are harmful and I am not going to discuss them here.
The point that is of utmost importance is that why rumours spread quickly. What are the factors that make it possible to spread rumours? In this piece of writing, I will discuss some causes.
First is we are uneducated people. We have high degrees but 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.
Second is we live in a conflict zone. Any incident of minute nature can blow things out of proportion. If a bullet is accidentally fired, we take it is an encounter. In the conflict zone, truth is difficult to find which a rumour reigns.
Third is 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.
Fourth is we don’t know how to distinguish between a rumour and the truth. We are never taught to make a difference between the two. Whatever comes in our way is either right or wrong, because our nourishment is in such a way that wrong is wrong and right is right. We never bother to look at both the terms again and introspect again.
Fifth is we live in an ignorant society. The orthodox principles are transmitted from one generation to another. A children inherent thing 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.
Sixth is that with 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.
Seventh is that we want fame. To be a famous person, means that we can adopt any way. 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.
Eighth is that 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 the time passes by very quickly.
Ninth is that 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.
Tenth and last is that we never learn from past. If the past experience teaches that we have got nothing by spreading rumours, what rumours can give us in the future is quite clear!
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. Let us rise to the occasion.
