Urban Legends: Fact vs. "Fact" / Discusses various aspects of urban legends and the "facts" surrounding them

Urban Legends: Fact vs. "Fact"
For hundreds of years, various folklore and local legends have been prime subjects of human intrigue and fascination. Over the past century, such folklore has been dubbed "Urban Legend." Also referred to as contemporary or modern legends, urban legends have become sources of education, entertainment, and explanations. What often starts as a mere rumor can potentially develop into an urban legend; a tale which attains this status somehow gains "truthfulness," subscribed believers, and occasional media attention. But what causes these jokes or rumors to ob…