View From the Bushes

My wife and I were discussing urban legends on the way home from a family gathering last night. She was commenting on the sometimes unintentional moral that many urban legends have, apart from the one that they ostensibly put forth. For example, in one through fervent prayer a girl is spared from being raped, but this is only discovered after another girl is raped in her stead. The primary moral is, of course, that prayer is good. The secondary and seemingly unintentional moral is that divine intervention doesn't stop bad things from happening -- it merely deflects them, and deflects them to someone who otherwise would have been spared. Pretty twisted, if you ask me.

I've already referenced my favorite UL website, Snopes, but I recently came across another pretty good UL website -- this one with more of a strictly religious theme. (They also mention the rape avoidance UL I mentioned previously). What's interesting is how many ULs seem to stem from a satirical article published by The Onion or a similar internet site, particularly some of the Harry Potter stuff. I mean, of course J.K. Rowling is a Satanist, but do you honestly think she's stupid enough to admit it?

Personally, I've always thought it would be fun to start an Urban Legend. I think something along the lines of the Neil Armstrong-Mr. Gorsky one -- something that's just so funny it has to be true. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure that in general urban legends aren't premeditated, but rather take on a life outside of their original telling without much rhyme or reason. This may not be strictly true with glurgy-religious ULs, but those aren't the sort I would like to start, in any event. Of course, now that I've mentioned this desire I'm sure that it's virtually impossible to do it now.

Carpe Diem Quam Minimum Credula Postero
Ross