Re: Rumor Control

["Joan Opyr" <auntiestablishment@hotmail.com>]

 

Tom writes:

"Of course, I can always "road test" my theory by calling Bucer's over the phone
and tell them that I was going to reserve their restaurant for a private party
(to the tune of about $3,000 to $5,000), but changed my mind because Bill
London said that Bucer's refuses to serve customers simply because of their
sexual preference." 

But that isn't, of course, what Bill said.  He asked a question about the truthfulness of an unpleasant story that's been making the rounds.  He's an experienced reporter, so I assume he's familiar with the libel laws.  (I used to work the Weddings & Engagements desk at the Raleigh News and Observer, so I have some familiarity with them myself.  No one is more litigious than a Southern bride whose name has been misspelled in her published announcement.)  

 

I haven't commented on the appropriateness (or inappropriateness) of Bill's posting his question to the list.  I think that's a separate matter from Lucy's and Doug's responses.  The original question did not, in my opinion, merit personal attack.  It was fair enough to say, as Lucy did in part of her post, that Bill should have called Bucer's.

 

As I said previously, I've heard the Bucer's story before.  I didn't see fit to pass it on.  (I also don't read the Drudge report or watch The E True Hollywood Story.)  The besetting sins of small town life are gossip, innuendo, and back-biting.  As a one-time resident of Four Oaks, NC, population 660, I can tell you that Moscow looks like an impersonal metropolis by comparison.  Nevertheless, it's hard to escape the everyone-knows-everyone-else's-business syndrome here.  I live with a family of third generation Muscovites who either went to high school with, attended the weddings of, employed, worked for, or beat up on the school bus most of the rest of this town.  Mention a name to a Moscow native, get an instant report on the family history.  

 

I don't like back-biting.  You can count on me to bite your front.  If Bucer's has lost business, I'd blame the underground rumor mill.  We have a chance now to stomp it in public, so let's do so. 

"Happy Chompo to me,

Is how it ought to be."

 

Joan/Auntie E

 

PS: Thanks to Russell Hoban for the Frances song.

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