Comments on: The Difference Between Rumor and Speculation http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/ I'm Arnold Kim, I run websites. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:04:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: solar panel installation http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1229 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:25:26 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1229 some truly superb posts on this site, appreciate it for contribution.

]]> By: iPhone Contract Deals http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1228 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:25:03 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1228 Love this, great blog, thanks.

]]> By: Normalkid:Arnold Kim » Blog Archive » Ah the Irony, Tiernan Ray Misreports My Misreport http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1226 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:20:23 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1226 [...] you might think that it’s not that big a deal since these are all rumors, but I’ve said before, I take rumors very seriously. And MacRumors, as a rule, takes a particularly skeptical look at [...]

]]> By: mrm http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1225 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:42:47 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1225 The real relationship is somewhere between what Kevin and Matthew describe.

Speculation can become rumor, and rumor can drive speculation. Conjecture may be based on available facts, but it guesses at the final outcome. A rumor, on the other hand, is the assumption of a possible fact which guesses ONLY the truth value of the statement, not the implications.

To make this more concrete, consider:
An unknown source indicates that iLife is going to be pulled from shelves next week. That’s a rumor. When someone goes from there to say that this must mean that the new iLife is coming next week as well, that’s speculation.

A rumor is only a passing of “facts” with, as Arn described, some possibility of being true. Anything that goes beyond the available information is speculation, even if it is logically inevitable based on past experience.

]]> By: Frank http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1224 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:35:34 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1224 Might this not mean that speculation is in fact rumor until proven otherwise to be conjecture?

Perhaps what we should be differentiating between is conjecture and inside information?

]]> By: Matthew http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1223 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:29:43 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1223 There is a difference between Rumour and Speculation, contrary to Kevin’s assertions, though it is subtle.

All definitions from American Heritage via dictionary.com

Rumour: A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth.

Speculation: A conclusion, opinion, or theory reached by conjecture.

Conjecture: Inference or judgment based on inconclusive or incomplete evidence; guesswork

So in essence, rumour is theory based on unconfirmed fact, whereas speculation is theory based on guesswork.

So I think Arnold is correct in his insistence on the distinction, subtle as it may be.

]]> By: kevin http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1222 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:10:00 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1222 I agree that there’s a difference in the two thing you’re talking about, but you can’t distinguish one as “rumor” and one as “speculation” – both instances, by definitions are “rumors” once the idea has been passed around. (Dictionary.com defines “rumor” as “a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts”). What you’re pointed out is the difference between the source, and it’s often – if not almost always – the case that when a story is being passed around that its source is not verified.. and those are rumors. Perhaps you need to distinguish between a “Pure-Speculation-Originating Rumor” and a “Trusted-Source-Originating Rumor” because that’s really what you’re talking about. I’m sure there’s a more concise way of phrasing that, but you get my point.

]]> By: displaced http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1221 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 12:06:09 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1221 Spot on, Arn!

*scurries off to register macspeculation.com*

(I kid, I kid!)

Seriously though, as you’ve noted the difference between these two ideas is really important. It’s something which the ‘fog of war’ in the MacRumors forums frequently obscures.

Having said that, one of the strengths of MR is that the stories posted and the forums themselves are two very different entities. Too many sites of a similar structure to MR tend to let the forums bleed into the stories too much, with articles posted that are almost based on discussions in the forums (macslash springs to mind, although I’ve not been a regular there for a few years now). MR stands out as a collator and filterer of the weird and wacky mac-web, without actually adding to the insanity itself :)

Nice blog so far!

–
Cheers,
Chris

]]> By: mrkramer http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1220 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:40:46 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1220 great post, all of your posts have been very interesting to read. keep posting more.

]]> By: Fest http://blog.normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1219 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:27:22 +0000 http://normalkid.com/2007/03/16/the-difference-between-rumor-and-speculation/#comment-1219 Dude… one of your best posts yet! Keep them coming!

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