What is, in your opinion, the funniest urban legend?
Not sure it counts as a UL, but I adore the tale of the boy with a burlap sack full of leaves as his body.
As for actual urban legends...maybe the "Bert And Ernie Are Gay!" urban legend. I don't know why, but that one makes me laugh. Probably partially because of the title for it in Richard Roeper's "Hollywood Urban Legends"--"Bert And Ernie Are Gay And Dead!" But even alone, it's funny. Sorry if that post didn't make much sense...
I'm a longtime (over a year, off and on) lurker on the Snopes messageboard, but I've never had the courage to actually set up an account and post there. When I found out there was a Snopes community on livejournal, I figured I'd add it and lurk here too. So here I am.
Out of curiousity, who here posts on the boards and (if you don't mind telling) what name do you use?
I just joined the community and I figured that I could share this, even though it's not on snopes.com yet (I just E-mailed them today with the info). Here's a copy of what I posted in my LJ:
I just got this E-mail at my school account that sounds almost legit, although a little fishy. A simple yahoo search showed that it was a scam and the same form letter is used for many other people, only with their last name rather than mine. Eventually this just turns out to be one of those Nigerian money scams (check snopes.com for info on that if you wish). Any way, below is a copy of the letter, only instead of my last name I'll put [insert last name here]. BTW, I replied to his E-mail and some how the reply address is barristerbriggs@yahoo.ie, which gets bounced back because it's not a real E-mail address. I tried again with the address listed as the "from" address in the E-mail. I told him that this sounds like spam and I have no known relatives named Andrew. I also asked where he got my address, not that it's hard to search an college or university directory. Anyhoo . . . here's the letter:
From "BARRISTER DAVID BRIGGS" <barristerdavidbriggs5@yahoo.ie> Date Mon, 19 Apr 2004 5:53 AM To barristerdavidbriggs5@yahoo.ie Subject MY DEAR [insert last name here]
Dear [insert last name here],
I am David Briggs, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr. Andrew [insert last name here], who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition in November 2001.
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at 19 million dollars is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.
All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
If this business proposition offends your moral values,do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest.
Wheeeeee! my lj name is Breakthetide. I think its a funny coincidence! Alright, that was random, sorry if I bothered anyone. I'll go back and hide now.
amused
curious
crazy