Rumors

From 9000 teens from an internet poll:

 Do rumors run rampant in your school? Yes 90%

 Are there more rumors about guys or girls? Girls 91% Guys 9%

 What are most rumors about?

34% who’s a slut

17% who’s dating whom

16% who’s having sex

15% classmates’ personalities and attitudes

4% who drinks/does drugs

3% homosexuality

2% school/teachers/grades

 Have you ever been the subject of rumors? Yes 73%

 If you were, what was the rumor about?

28% who I was dating

22% my personality or attitude

12% how much sex I was having

6% my sexual preference

4% drinking/drugs

2% my family

26% other

 How did the rumors affect you?

29% they made me angry

23% they just made me laugh

19% they didn’t affect me at all

11% they made me feel depressed

10% they made it hard to be at school

4% they cost me my friends

2% they ruined my life

1% they got so bad, I had to change schools

 What’s the best way to deal with rumors?

41% ignore them

39% confront whoever spread them

17% try to prove they’re wrong

3% get even by spreading some yourself

 Do you think everyone spread rumors, that it’s human nature? Yes 63%

 Do you think people are aware how hurtful rumors can be? No 62%

 Have you ever spread rumors? Yes 63%

 Do you think rumors are harmless and unimportant? Yes 83%

 Have you ever regretted spreading a rumor?

52% yes, when I saw the damage it did

48% no, I didn’t really care

C Is there a way to stop the rumor mill?

80% no, once a rumor starts it can’t be stopped

20% yes, by refusing to spread rumors.

SOURCE-Teen People, August 2000