An Introduction to Urban Legends

The next time you fill up your gas tank, make sure to take a look at the pump handle before you grab it. Terrorists are placing syringes filled with biological agents in gas pump handles, so if you're not careful, buying gas can kill you. It happened to my cousin's hairdresser's son in Peoria last week.

Or not. The above is an example of an urban legend, also known as a "friend of a friend" (FOAF) tale, and is totally false. While urban legends are considered a subset of folklore, they differ from traditional folk tales in that they are usually presented as being absolutely true. The events of most urban legends are said to have happened to (or been confirmed by) someone just outside the storyteller's circle of acquaintances-a person that the teller doesn't know personally, but is only one or two degrees of separation from.

Like standard "tall tales," urban legends change over time, though usually at a much faster pace than traditional folk tales. Most of these alterations localize the story, adding specific landmarks, local celebrities, and regional flavor. For example, the tale of a disgruntled employee at Hardee's who spits in customers' milkshakes will change its location to Carl's Jr. as it moves westward across the U.S.

FOAF tales can also change to reflect current values, fears, and trends. The opening example is a variation on a tale told in the 1980s. In the original version, the needless (usually found in phone booth return slots) were said to contain HIV positive blood. According to some versions of the tale, the needles were placed by gay AIDS sufferers who hoped that spreading the disease among the straight community would result in more research into a cure. As the general public gained a better understanding of the AIDS epidemic, the legend changed to reflect our newest boogeyman, the (probably Islamic) terrorist. The movement of the needles from phone booths to gas pumps reflects not only the modern prevalence of cell phones, but the role of oil in U.S. relations with the Islamic world.