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Five True Urban Legends
Urban legends are based on stories that are meant to teach us lessons. They can be based on horror, comedy, or even half-truths. But if you do a little digging, you can actually find those urban legends that are actually based on reality.
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Man Lives With Broken Neck for 60 Years
While hard to believe, it’s absolutely true. World War II veteran Bill Boyd suffered a broken neck when jumping from his plane in 1943. He didn’t realize it until he suffered a minor car crash that revealed his startling injury. He never knew he was moments away from death or even paralysis. He had spent two weeks in a small German cell lying completely still, which was enough to save his life. Once the doctor discovered his 60-year-old injury, he took action to repair Mr. Boyd’s neck.
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The Woman Who killed Herself on National TV
For years rumors speculated about how a woman committed suicide during a newscast. Many believed that such a thing could not be true. Unfortunately, this urban legend is true. In 1974, a news anchorwoman, Christine Chubbock, pulled a gun on herself and shot herself on live TV. Her co-workers believed she was playing a horrible prank, until they realized her body was unresponsive. The severity of her suicide had the tape yanked, and it was later returned to her family, never to be seen again.
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Infestation of the Breasts
Some years back, an email began circulating about an anthropologist named Susan McKinley who came down with a rash after returning from South America. After seeing many doctors and receiving treatments that did not alleviate the pain in her breast, she was finally sent to a dermatologist with her breast bandaged up. The dermatologist, as well as Ms. McKinley was horrified to find larvae growing underneath her bandages. While this story is absolutely false, it is partially based on true accounts. The story stemmed from a medical article about a Nigerian woman who suffered from Furuncular Myiasis of the breast where the larvae of the Tumbu fly had buried itself.
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1998 Congolese Soccer Team Electrocuted to Death
As strange as it sounds, in 1998, 11 members of a Congolese soccer team were all electrocuted to death. It’s bizarre considering your chances of electrocution by lightening are about 1 in 300,000. Of course, all the Congolese players were wearing metal studded cleats, whereas the opposing team were wearing rubberized ones.
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The $17,000 Traffic Ticket
A truck driver in Philadelphia got lost in the burbs of East Whiteland. Imagine his surprise when he gets hit with a ticket for over $17,000. He was fined for having a vehicle that weighed too much. The area he was in fines heavy vehicles that can cause damage to bridges and roadways. There is $150 fine, then $150 for every 500 lbs over the 3,000 lb weight limit. Talk about one hefty traffic ticket.
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leg·end
Pronunciation:
ˈle-jənd
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English legende, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French legende, from Medieval Latin legenda, from Latin, feminine of legendus, gerundive of legere to gather, select, read; akin to Greek legein to gather, say, logos speech, word, reason
Date:
14th century
1 a: a story coming down from the past; especially : one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable b: a body of such stories c: a popular myth of recent origin d: a person or thing that inspires legends e: the subject of a legend 2 a: an inscription or title on an object (as a coin) b: caption 2b c: an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart
So…it’s not necessarily untrue, just not verifiable. So stop being a schmuck and enjoy the article.
True or not, still very interesting reads!!
https://www.triond.com/users/Autumnrose
It was a nice read! Makes you wonder about other “urban legends” .. I like stories that make me ask more questions!
Quick, fun read. Good stuff
OMG I♥ urban legends!! Im doing my spech on them!!