It's wrong to start untrue rumors about others.
Dave and Bill are making small talk and the conversation seems to be fading out.
Dave wants to say something interesting to keep the conversation going.
Dave tells Bill a story about some interesting sports highlights he watched last night.
"Dave says ""hey did you hear about John? I heard he is wearing a hairpiece. "" which is untrue, and he knows it."
John is never smeared and lives his life happily as he would have normally.
John finds out about the false rumor and is saddened and angry that his reputation has been tarnished for no reason.