Lindsey Margulies
English 121
Professor Littlejohn
5/5/15
Rumors
Rumor; a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth. In this era it is not difficult to find out information about celebrities, no matter how personal or private it is to them. Information about them can be posted on gossip columns or any type of media outlet. Celebrities that are in the stoplight can either suffer from the humiliation or rise in social status. This all depends on what the rumor is and what the people who read it are going to think of it. In the article the “Watercooler Effect” by Nicholas DiFonzo, he gives clear insight of the watercooler effect, which is a casual exchange of information. It’s through these exchanges, where unproved information is spread through networks that rumors surface. Also in the article “The rumor “ by John Updike he discusses rumors can be spread and the effect of the. There are positive and negative impacts of rumors on celebrities. They can either boost their social status or destroy it. Have you ever heard the saying “celebrity breakdown” thinking further into it, the reason this occurs is from the spread of nasty rumors. They are trying to maintain a particular image but that image can be destroyed by one post. This is where the watercolor effect comes into play. "A rumor is what you do when you try to make sense of things with other people" (Difonzo) the watercooler effect is the reason why the rumor to continues to spread. These rumors being spread can be as small as “Who one last nights game” or as big as “Someone passing away” these rumors we here have a great impact on what we think about someone or something. These celebrities that are constantly being talked about in
