The Global Grapevine: Why Rumors of Terrorism, Immigration, and Trade Matter

Far from mere idle tales, rumors are a valuable window into our anxieties and fears. Rumors let us talk as a community about some very inflammatory issues—issues that may be embarrassing or disturbing to discuss-allowing us to act as if we are talking about real events, not personal beliefs. We can air our hidden fears and desires without claiming these attitudes as our own.

In The Global Grapevine, two leading authorities on rumor, folklore, and urban legend—Gary Alan Fine and …