For a long while I chose to stay innocent and believe that Lindsay Lohan really cared about Samantha Ronson, and vice versa. How else could you explain how quiet and low key (relatively speaking) Lohan had been about their relationship? Though Lindsay has yet to officially confirm that the two are together, she makes no attempt to hide it either, and for a long time I thought it was cute and somewhat innocent, and least for her.

But it’s pretty clear she’s just working it for the publicity. After two separate and distinct rounds of “they’re getting engaged” rumors flew about the internet, Lohan was spotted wearing a ring on her left hand within days – generally after. It seems like a coordinated attempt: and either Lohan is putting out the gossip herself, or at least embracing and responding to it by wearing the ring.

But her parents say it’s all bull, and for once I am inclined to believe them.

Did Lindsay Lohan really get a rock from her rocker girl, Samantha Ronson?

Once again, rumors are rampant that the ladyloves are engaged! Well, that’s what happens when you are a young, famous female in love and you go around sporting a heart-shaped sparkler on your left hand. And now, we can confirm for you…It’s not true.

“It’s all BS,” says her father, Michael Lohan, when asked if L.A. DJ Ronson recently proposed to his daughter. “It’s not true.” A source close to Dina Lohan adds, “She said it’s just one of Lindsay’s cocktail rings, nothing more.” In fact, Lindsay enjoys wearing flashy rings on her wedding ring finger especially because of the storm it causes in the media.

“It’s like her own personal joke these days,” the source said. “She slips a ring on that finger, then goes to a party and watches the rumors start to roll. It amuses her.”

[From E! News]

I bet it amuses her. But phrasing it like that makes it sound like it amuses Lohan because she thinks she’s clever or the joke’s on everyone else. The joke is on her. If someone you previously thought was not engaged suddenly wore a gigantic ring on their left hand ring finger, wouldn’t you wonder about it? And probably ask other people? It’s not like people are gossiping needless or rushing to speculate.

You wear a ring there because you’re engaged. Doing it for some other reason and then acting like everyone else is stupid for thinking you’re doing it for the normal reason just makes you look foolish. So as usual the joke’s on Lohan. What’ll be awesome is one day when she does get engaged, and no one will care to the same extent they would have (and she’ll want) if she’d been calling wolf less.

Here’s Lindsay (wearing the “cocktail” ring) at the Stand Up For a Cure concert with the Dave Matthews Band in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Images thanks to PR Photos.