2007-03-15 04:16:05 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Interesting question. You might enjoy an excellent "documentary" called "W.S.H." which deals with exactly this query. It's 48 minutes, and you can find some information about it on IMDB.
I'll refrain from giving a more detailed answer discussing the many theories behind the sources of urban legends (complete fabrication, grain-of-truth, substantiated cases, underhand corporate tactics, attention seeking, etc.) because it's all in W.S.H., presented in a most compelling format.
I don't imagine it would be too hard to get hold of a copy.
2007-03-15 04:28:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
gossip and small stories that grow arms and legs as it is spread. or sometimes made up to warn people.
The urban legend about the girl who sneaks her bf into the basement when she thinks everybody is out. They get undressed and all of a sudden they hear a shout of 'surprise'. All of the girls family and friends are there for the girls surprise birthday party.
This was made up in the 1940s as a warning to young girls against premarital sex and how you should be ashamed if you are doing it.
2007-03-15 13:52:54 · answer #2 · answered by Lady Claire - Hates Bigotry 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say someone somewhere decides to make up a tall-tale to either entertain or scare their friends. Then the story gets passed along, blah, blah, blah, and after a while no one remembers who started and and just accepts it as truth because they've heard it so many times.
2007-03-15 11:20:27 · answer #3 · answered by cherrybomb909 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People tell stories to each other - its only when people start believing them enough to make them real, do problems occur
2007-03-15 11:28:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone changes/invents a story and tells someone, who tells someone, who each tell someone, who each tell someone, who post it on the net/add it to add blog - eventually everyone thinks it's real but no-one knows who started it.
2007-03-15 11:21:25 · answer #5 · answered by chillipope 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they probly start somewhere like answers...im telling some people on here come out with the biggest pack of lies youve ever heard!!! lol
2007-03-15 11:23:03 · answer #6 · answered by princess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mainly because people exaggerate a lot, and other people believe them. Eventually, people start to think it's true! ! !
2007-03-15 12:57:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Idle gossip!
2007-03-15 11:19:46 · answer #8 · answered by flipflop_76 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just by people
2007-03-15 11:20:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
from idle people who have nothing better to do with their pathetic lives...
2007-03-15 12:13:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋