Ever read "The History Man"? He starts a false university rumor that a controversial speaker has been banned so everyone then feels obliged to invite him causin

Ever read "The History Man"? He starts a false university rumor that a controversial speaker has been banned so everyone then feels obliged to invite him causing protests and chaos. This was set in the early 1970's. We have not invented fuss and perhaps could do with more of a sense of history before getting upset. It was ever thus.