Ever since I posted the "LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed" Movie Review, I've been doing a little thinking about how telling rumors still exists. Ever think about that after watching that movie?
In today's world, people can get away with starting rumors easier, thanks to social media. Now, I'm not speaking badly about social media, but I get the feeling that it doesn't do enough to prevent cyberbullying or any other gossip that's posted all over the websites. That not only ruins reputations, but it's also signing away a potential victim's death certificate and spitting on their grave.
In "LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed," the rumor's victim is LarryBoy's butler Alfred, who was well-known in town, and he was helpful to everyone. However, his reputation was in jeopardy when a rumor was started about him. The rumor wasn't started from a Facebook post or from other type of social media. (There was no such thing as Facebook/related social media back then.)
It was started when two kids heard him say that he needed to "recharge his batteries," and then they just assume that he's a robot. The kids didn't know that the phrase was only a figure of speech; they didn't ask him about it, or tell their parents about it- they just made an assumption that would've sealed his fate reputation-wise.
Although this video came out in 1999, the issue that it touches on is still in existence. Yes. Sadly, the starting of rumors has evolved into cyberbullying and lying in the media. This is one of the reasons why the Rumor Weed video seems so underrated, because many people don't take its lesson seriously enough to press "Ctrl+Alt Delete" to a post that's going to hurt someone in the future, or to keep the mouth shut if you don't have anything nice to say about someone.
Another observation from the video was that LarryBoy doesn't technically save the day. He has no power to fully destroy the Rumor Weed. The weed meets her demise when the rumor is counteracted by spread of "nice words," meaning that everyone had to say nice things about Alfred and heal his reputation. So basically, what this video tries to say on that standpoint, it's basically asking you: Do you really need a superhero to know that you shouldn't start rumors or talk bad about someone? Just by knowing that question, everyone should know that starting rumors that can hurt is wrong.
So the big question now is: Is the Rumor Weed getting stronger?
Sadly, in today's world with the social media... she is getting stronger.
You'll hear on the news that a person kills him/herself because they can't take the harshness of the posts on social media being made about them. The more and more we start rumors about people, the more powerful the Rumor Weed gets (metaphorically), and the more broken souls she'll get her vines on. Imagine standing in a crowd near your hall, looking up and watching the person that you talked bad about take their own life in front of you, or signing their soul away to misery. Imagine the victim's blood on your hands due to a stupid rumor about what they're not. Imagine the Rumor Weed stretching her vines to get you and the victim both tangled in this mess. You'd think you'll get away with just one rumor; unfortunately, you'll do it again to someone else or think nothing of this.
It's a good thing that Alfred didn't die in that video, but he still got hurt. It doesn't matter if the victim overcomes or commits suicide, rumors can affect them either way.
So the next time you pick up "LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed" and watch it, think about today's world. Think about who you're hurting when you start rumors about them, and how they and their families will react to the rumors. Think about how you can show the Rumor Weed that you don't want to say bad things about someone.
Amateur Critic
Source: LarryBoy and the Rumor Weed
All rights go to Big Idea Entertainment
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