I know, I know, you didn’t mean to, it’s just a funny story. But here’s the thing: you got it wrong.  Sure, you got the gist of the whole thing, but the details are what really rock the boat and no one can tell those like I can. Plus, I don’t really find it funny. In fact, I would rather everybody I know not find out about it.  

Here’s the real problem: our society seems to have very little respect for the concept of privacy.  Even though laws protect one’s privacy in the broad sense, there is little to no social enforcement of specific violations of privacy on the small scale. A great example of that is the recent nude-photo scandal that arose around several very famous celebrities. Many people rightfully have pointed out that it is not a scandal but rather a very serious sex crime, but it seems unlikely that any real action will come of this, such as an effort by authorities to find the perpetrator or take down the photographs. Yes, I know, you simply spread a rumor that was harmless, there were no pictures attached. However, the same concept applies: what I do in the privacy of my own room and home is just that: private. Just like you have no right to view the pictures on another person’s phone without permission, you have no right to tell people what I did without my permission.

But you only spread rumors about things that happen in public: that’s fair game right?  Spreading any rumor is bullying, regardless of where it happened. Someone performs an action that they would rather have not, spreading it causes psychological harm to them, making it bullying. Sure, it’s not the same as demanding their lunch money but that doesn’t make it okay. If you embarrass yourself, why would you want it repeated for the next four years of your life?  Rumors don’t blow over as fast as you would think: I’m still living down the time I fell off a table sophomore year.

Before you spread your next juicy rumor, try a little bit of empathy.  Put yourself in the victim’s shoes: would you like this spread about you?  And even if the answer is yes, wouldn’t you like to tell people yourself? That’s what I thought.  

XOXO, 

The victim of your rumors