People who maliciously spread rumors like this should face harsher penalties under the law and be branded as rumor-mongers for life.
As long as people believe rumors and there’s something to gain from spreading them, people will keep making them, no matter how often they’re banned.
Spreading rumors is an extremely low-cost act that can cause enormous harm to others.
I remember years ago, a woman went to pick up a package and someone maliciously made up a salacious rumor about her. It had a terrible impact on her work and personal life, and left her with psychological scars for life.
The harm is profoundly disproportionate: rumor-mongers have to pay very little, while their targets may suffer devastating consequences.
As long as people believe rumors and there’s something to gain from spreading them, people will keep making them, no matter how often they’re banned.
Spreading rumors is an extremely low-cost act that can cause enormous harm to others.
I remember years ago, a woman went to pick up a package and someone maliciously made up a salacious rumor about her. It had a terrible impact on her work and personal life, and left her with psychological scars for life.
The harm is profoundly disproportionate: rumor-mongers have to pay very little, while their targets may suffer devastating consequences.