Is urban legends true?

Answer 1

Most urban legends play on fears. They usually tell of horrific things that have happened, but are nearly always third or fourth hand--the old 'friend of a friend' kind of thing.

Jan Brundvand has written extensively on this subject in such books as The Mexican Pet, Curses! Broiled Again, and The Baby Train and Other Lusty Urban Legends.

What's really interesting is that the same basic stories come up over and over again in different parts of the country--for instance, where I grew up The Ghostly Hitchhiker was known as Midnight Mary, who had supposedly died when her boyfriend lost control of his car and it went into Tullytown Lake near Bristol, PA, on her prom night. Sound familiar? It should. By the time I was in my 20's I'd heard versions of this from Texas, Ohio, California, and North Carolina.

Again, most urban legends are in reality cautionary tales kept alive by the oral tradition--they only change in their location, but usually are intended (though most don't realize it!) to keep us safe in a world that is perceived as very dangerous. This is why so many of them deal with everyday things gone terribly wrong--such as leaving your children with people you might not know very well (as in the babysitter on drugs who accidentally microwaved the baby), parking in 'lovers lanes' (the hook man and the hanging boyfriend), failing to secure the house before going to bed (humans can lick, too), and unwise sexual encounters (AIDS Mary and the organ harvester).

Check out some of Brundvand's books. You'll learn a lot.

Answer 2

If something is dubbed as an Urban Legend then it is generally not true, although they are usually based on a true story, not the key word is "based".

Answer 3

First of all the word you're looking for is are...are Urban Legends true and the answer is unknown but most likly not. Otherwise it'd be called fact or fiction. Most Urban Legens might be based in truth but aren't true.

Answer 4

You mean, are urban legends true, not is.

Answer 5

O sweet bouncing buddha.

Do you understand what you are asking? Did you try to look this up? Look up "urban legend" in a search engine and you will instantly figure it out.

Answer 6

that depends, it you believe it enough something might happen.
Myths and folklore usually start from a simple story that might of happened, but like chinese whispers it all changes especially by the time it's your turn to pass it on.

Answer 7

she is talkin bout the game guys and all the ones that say tru are true

Answer 8

Yes ....I mean no...maybe