Urban Legend Gail Collins' Scorpion Term Paper

It is very clear then that this particular 'urban legend' is very much the same as the gossips circulating around America. No proofs whatsoever, and the only purpose is to stir pandemonium among people.

A student at Oxford was sitting an exam when he called a supervisor and asked for his mug of ale and a plate of scones. Turns out there's rules dating back to medieval times - a few of which were never repealed. The ale and scones are duly brought. At his next exam, he's refused entry because he's not carrying his sword." http://www.warphead.com/urbanlegends/school.htm,2006 para 5)

This particular urban legend circulated among the students. This type of urban legend is not time bounded for the students can relate to this, may it be students from the past, or students of the present time. This particular urban legend is funny in a way and it stirs imagination among the students as to how life was in the medieval era. And like what Collins has pointed out, urban legends such as this, are like gossips which do not provide any positive impact to any concerned people who may have heard or may have initiated such idea. It is just a thought that is nice to be heard, but there's really nothing to learn from it.

A student in a very large auditorium-class didn't stop working on his exam when the professor called "time." When he went up to turn it in, the professor said he needn't bother, he'd already failed. The student looked at the large stack of exams on the desk and asked "Do you know who I am?" angrily. The professor replied that he didn't, and the student stuck his exam in the middle of the stack and said, "Good." http://www.warphead.com/urbanlegends/school.htm,2006 para 2)

Just like the second example of urban legend circulating in today's time, this third example is a kind of urban legend that may have sprouted from the school premises. There is a strong possibility that the students started it just to pass time or have something to talk about.This particular urban legend is also like a gossip that is famous in a specific setting, and that is in schools, for it is the students and the professors that can only relate to this. This is a thought that can serve as a source of laughter but there is really no moral values that can be learned from it.

Someone has been mailing large blue envelopes marked "a gift from the Klingerman Foundation." Inside the package is a sponge that contains a virus that leads to extreme dysentery." http://www.warphead.com/urbanlegends/antisocial.htm,2006 para 8)

This urban legend circulated among the older persons who may have some fears regarding the passing on of virus. It can be remembered that there was a time wherein some news were prompted by the media that there is a particular virus that can be transmitted via postal mails. It is highly probable that this idea started from the said news. What is strange about this urban legend is its funny idea of having a sponge in the mail. It is odd and funny. Like the other urban legends cited, there is no proof and there was really no cited incidents that this really happened or is really happening.

Indeed, urban legends are like gossips. They are just the product of one's imagination. They can be created just to have something to talk about, or just to have something to laugh about. Urban legends, like gossips, have to positive impact to the society or to any individual who may have initiated it or heard about it.

Urban legends could stir the mind of the many and could disrupt the orderliness in the society, just like what gossips can do.

Works Cited

Antisocial Urban Legend." [online] viewed: 9 Sept 2006. http://www.warphead.com/urbanlegends/antisocial.htm

Collins, G.. The Irresistible History of Gossip in American Politics. Harvest Books. 1999

Schools Urban Legend." [online] viewed: 9 Sept 2006. http://www.warphead.com/urbanlegends/school.htm.....