Venom

It spreads to everyone.
They all seem so addicted.

And though you may not want to admit it, you're addicted at times too.

But it's just so difficult to stay away from it all. It seems like it's everywhere. Even if you try to get away from it, it seems to come to you.

Rumours. Lies. Altered Stories. Assumptions. Stereotypes. 

We are all guilty of a few, or even, all of the above. 

This doesn't mean you're a bad person or want to maliciously ruin lives. But these things have just become part of our society. We have grown up with them and as awful as it sounds, we've become used to them.

Whether you're the one who starts the rumour, helps to spread it or just happens to overhear it, you've now become part of the situation.

But you can still choose what you do with this information. 

If you started the rumour, have the decency to apologize, don't be a coward. 

If you purposefully went and told 7 people who you knew would tell everyone, then you're no better than the person who started the rumour. But there is a difference between telling someone in order to receive advice or just so you feel better. It can be emotionally draining when people tell you all their problems, or something that happened, and it's fair for you to have an outlet. Make sure it's someone who you can trust.

No one is perfect. You have been part of this problem in the past, and may have to deal with it again in the future. But once you make the decision to act appropriately, it will make a difference.