One of the biggest things you need to avoid in a small town are rumors and those that spread them. The intent is always to discredit, find fault, or just be plain vicious. My experience has been that the rumors never have enough truth in them, just maybe a little sometime, sometimes none. Truth is not important with rumors. Ask the rumor spreador, they don't search it out, they just spread it. It is the blind leading the blind, the liar informing the liar. I guess it is fun and this is why people do it? Don't know.
What I find funny, I guess, if anything about this could be funny, is sometimes the rumors are about the rumor spreaders. I have heard this one in particular several times, and for proof, there is a picture circulating too. This particular one is pretty nasty, involves a tatoo that says "welcome in" or something like that.
But there are times it is hard to rise above it. Knowing terrible things about a person does what for you? Makes you feel better about yourself? I think some things are good to know, especially if you are going to employ someone. It is good to know what their particular rumors are, their history. It is better to know this BEFORE you hire them.
But do people fill out the rumors on their application form? Would they even use someone that knows terrible things about them as a reference? No, not typically. Do you want someone to know all the bad things you have done in your past? No, not usually.
But can you expect everything to be kept a secret? No, I'm afraid not. You pretty much are who you are, and the truth will come out. So I guess to overcome the rumors, move to a larger town or just hang around intelligent people who get no charge out of rumors. They are content to do their jobs, mind their own business and enjoy life without knowing all the terrible things about people. These are productive people, not destructive.
I think we can feel good about ourselves without taking down another person. It isn't like you can mount their heads on your living room wall, anyway. Gads, at least I hope not. We may have a more serious problem.
Ah, life in a small town.
Mary Welch Broker/Owner Preferred Choice Realty, Harper, Ks.