New Year's Resolution: No more gossip in 2008

Most of us are guilty of starting or contributing to the spread of highly infectious, juicy rumors.

Although I have never started a rumor, I have accidentally spread rumors about people not realizing it because sometimes what I hear is too funny to contain to myself.

So my New Year's resolution is this, no gossiping about friends or celebrities, no matter how juicy the information is. I will try my best to steer clear of Hollywood gossip magazines.

Good-bye Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. I loved you girls for providing me with the humor that is your daily lives.

There is another side of rumors that's not as much fun, being on the receiving end. I've been there. Most things I hear about myself are usually funny and outrageous enough that I hope no one believes them due to the pure insanity of what was said.

One rumor I keep hearing about myself is how I'm a "party animal." I wish I was, because it might mean I actually have a social life and can be separated from my dogs for the weekend. Usually, I stay at home watching movies with my dogs. I'm so boring, I'd rather be at a party … out on the town … doing anything with people.

I asked my mom and my best friend about rumors. They believe most people spread rumors out of jealousy or hatred toward the person they are talking about.

The way I look at it, if someone spreads a rumor, maybe they're bored or didn't know what they heard was false.

I think people who gossip become a fan club for the person they are talking about. So for anyone who had a rumor spread about them, congratulations on your new celebrity status. Embrace it, it's kind of a compliment. View those who gossip about others as unintelligent, petty or bored with their own lives. The person spreading the rumor may not actually be that way, but they certainly purvey the aforementioned image.

If you hear a rumor about yourself, the best thing to do is to let it go and forgive. If you're unable to forget about it, there is always the option of confronting the person who said the nasty bit of information, but don't expect any positive results.

People who say nasty things never expect to be confronted. They will never admit to what they said because they are embarrassed. They will most likely deny taking part. I think the right thing to do is admit the mistake and apologize. But sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest thing to do. No one wants to admit they made up a rumor or passed one on.

My idea is to avoid doing it.

I know how I want to be perceived, so my lips are sealed for 2008 no matter what Britney, Paris or Lindsay do.

Candice Boutilier is the Columbia Basin Herald city reporter. The odds, in the betting pool for when she breaks her New Year's resolution, are even money she will mention Britney before January is over.