"But in the meantime, don't forget psychologist Knapp. "To decry the ravages of rumor-mongering is one thing," he wrote, "to control it is yet another." Pass it on."

Psychologists Carol Tavris & Eliot Aronson wrote a book titled Mistakes Were Made (but not by me). It's largely about how people convince themselves of a preferred version of events. Part of the book deals with failed prophecies (e.g. what happens when the world doesn't end tomorrow?). Some people prefer the rumor to reality.