I am a rumor, I love my existence.

It was a WhatsApp forward, I think it’s true. It was on my Facebook timeline, I think it’s true. It popped up on Insta story, I think it’s true. It was spoken in my circle, I think it’s true. It was mentioned in the tabloid, I think it’s true. It happened earlier as well, I think it’s true. It sounds legitimate, I think it’s true. It highlights the other side, I think it’s true. It is what I thought, I think it’s true. It may be the case, I think it’s true. I don’t think it’s a rumor, I think it’s true.

Now, all of the above are legit statements in your world. But, what is most worrisome is your unconditional conviction (I think it’s true) towards it. Quite often, they might be a mirror-image to reality but quite often they are just mere perceptions. A perception, that recreates itself to be a strong hypothesis. A hypothesis that makes the frontal lobes of your brain super active. An action that makes you want to believe that hypothesis. And when this ‘want’ overpowers your thought, I am born — a rumor.

You know, I am so sensitive that I could actually reposition a reality into being me, a rumor. And this wouldn’t take a lot of effort. I learn humans either see or listen to create their own beliefs. Even when there’s a genuine fact that goes out in your world, a couple of words added, a couple of visuals created, is sufficient to germinate my existence.

So, why do I exist?

This one’s actually a tricky question to answer. I mean even I don’t really understand my existence. It is painful when I am used to drifting an existing reality. Let me not even talk about the consequences you’ve faced because of me.

Rather, more importantly, I am more worried about the fact that you live in a world that was never so well-connected. Technology, as you call it, has given each one of you the ultimate access to reach out to every corner of your universe within seconds. Let’s just say each one of you today is an influencer. Someone that not only has the credibility to build an opinion but also voice it across the world. What you share, remember, is a chain reaction that reaches innumerable souls and there is no accountability to when and where it’d end.

Imagine any sort of information, a rumor, that flows across your world. Literally just think the quantum of these messages that are spreading every second, every minute and the way it’s affecting people and their lives. Imagine the people who already have xxxxxx-o-phobia or would develop one by seeking such knowledge. The level of perception it builds within minutes, the way a civilization thinks/acts/reacts/perceives/retaliate is absolutely dependent on this personal flow of information that can get vulnerable. There is this virtual drama that literally has each one of you with a role play. Notably, all of you are in lead roles. Just that, this is an unplanned script that might run for an ambiguous duration.

So, how do you get rid of me?

Firstly, only believe in the source. Believe in a piece of information that comes from a source credible to deliver that information. Your world is organized to have well-defined institutions & authorities to look after a certain course of action. Try and restrict yourself to only believe in what their official medium puts forward! And not some third party trying to share things on their behalf. A little change of words and visuals can rock your world.

Secondly, validate before you react. Most of the time, your peer group, your family, your friends, your acquaintances share the information that literally translates into your belief. Why? Because they said so! Its good to share trust, but it is equally important to validate sensitive information that not only helps you embrace reality but also enables you to help your loved ones embrace it.

You’re privileged to live in this well-connected world. You’re more powerful than ever to make your world a happy place. All I request is to stay vigilant and pin down anything that will disrupt the sense of harmony. You deserve to be happy, always!

After all, I am a rumor and I do not wish to love my existence.

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