
Why do we tell/share urban legends?
#1
Posted 01 March 2011 - 05:46 PM
I think it is in our nature to share stories. And I know people who forward e'mails with what turn out to be modern urban legends feel they are being helpful (so even when I research and find the warning not to be true, I still thank my friends/neighbours for caring).
But is there more than that? Do we feel a little powerful sharing knowledge? Are lots of people gullible?
Eat, drink and be scary. ~Author Unknown
#2
Posted 12 April 2011 - 12:08 PM
Have been thinking about this for awhile. Why do we tell stories like these? As cautions to others? Just as entertainment?
I think it is in our nature to share stories. And I know people who forward e'mails with what turn out to be modern urban legends feel they are being helpful (so even when I research and find the warning not to be true, I still thank my friends/neighbours for caring).
But is there more than that? Do we feel a little powerful sharing knowledge? Are lots of people gullible?
Often a moral is associated with the story, others just like to swap "screy tales", as my 2 grandmothers can verify. Sometimes it's a way to explain something thhat cannot be quickly or eaisly understood, by the rational mind Mostly, here inthe South, it's "tradition", verbaal passing along of 'history", regardless how unbelieveable that hhistory is.
#3
Posted 12 April 2011 - 02:22 PM
For instance, maybe 100 years ago the "crazy" man who lived in the shack at the edge of town was simply not understood. Later he was "accused" (not formally of course) of being connected with a disappearance of a child. (Who cares if the child actually just ran away from home.) We all "know" the crazy man was responsible.
In the telling and retelling the man becomes a child killer. Then it's not one but several kids. Of course by now the man has passed on, the shack burned down and a shopping mall has taken its place. But the story lives on.
#4
Posted 13 April 2011 - 12:35 PM
The evolution of a story from perfectly explainable to urban legend is like a generations-long game of "telephone".
I believe that in many cases children and teenagers are the ones telling these stories which, of course, have the tendancy to embellish just a LITTLE bit.

As for why we tell them? Why not? What's life without mysteries? Ones that are local tend to be even more interesting.
Why do we investigate them? Well, probably because no matter how far-fetched the legend, there's always the slightest of chances there may be some truth to it since it will almost never be disproven.
#5
Posted 14 April 2011 - 08:33 PM

Edited by BLACK SHUCK, 14 April 2011 - 08:34 PM.
#6
Posted 15 April 2011 - 07:50 AM
I agree.Heck, I forgot to menttion, bec
ause it's downright fun to do.
#7
Posted 15 April 2011 - 08:56 PM
#8
Posted 20 April 2011 - 01:20 PM
#9
Posted 30 April 2011 - 05:50 PM

#10
Posted 15 May 2011 - 11:22 PM
#11
Posted 13 August 2011 - 07:35 PM
I do agree, however, that these sorts of things are fun!
#12
Posted 14 August 2011 - 10:21 AM
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