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Define one of these types of Gossip: Slander, Misinformation, Fears/Concerns, Cyber-Gossip, Dishing or Jokes/Wild Stories.
Slander is when people spread rumors or lies about a person in order to purposely cause pain or damage. Maybe they want to see this person humiliated or turn others against him or her. They make up lies or pass on embarrassing rumors that probably aren't true.
Dishing. You may hear people say, "Give me the dish!" or "Let's dish the dirt!" Dishing is another word for gossiping, and a kind of general spreading of rumors and gossip that people don't usually think twice about.
Fears or Concerns
Many rumors tap into people's common fears, and this makes them sound true even though they usually are not.
These are often rumors that involve the threat of physical danger, the unknown and unfamiliar, and things that are gross or way-out weird.
Jokes or Wild Stories
Sometimes rumors start out as silly jokes, then get spread around and changed over and over again. When lots of people are telling the same tale, it makes it seem more like the truth. You might think, "How can all these people be wrong?"
Misinformation
Many rumors are just about people getting things wrong, or believing in exaggerations. Often people will swear up and down that they know something to be true when, in reality, they're just passing on a rumor they've heard from someone.
Cyber-Gossip
If you've ever heard something juicy in an online chat room or in an IM from a friend, you know that the Internet has made it easy to spread a rumor to lots of people with lightning-fast speed. "Cyber-gossip" can involve any of the other types mentioned here.