Rumor mongering and opinions are distinctly different things. An opinion is sourced to oneself - "I think that...". You may have evidence or information, but you take credit for the idea.
Rumors ascribe motivation and action to individual's private lives. Opinions can be based on speculative ideas - rumors are speculative ideas, and should not be given credibility without some substantiation.
And to your idea of people 'agreeing' with rumors - rumors are speculative truth assertions. They are not subject to agree/disagree. It is believe/disbelieve. There is a difference, and it is important: A rumor can be proven true or false, an opinion cannot be proven true or false. At the root of rumor is a fact (or not). At the root of opinion is an unknown or unknowable proposition. That is why it is opinion and not an assertion of truth.
This is a board for opinion. Not for rumors, so much.
Exiled